69–010 

Calendar No. 796 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 110–364 

MISSISSIPPI HILLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT 

JUNE 16, 2008.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. BINGAMAN, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 2254] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the Act (S. 2254) to establish the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area in the State of Mississippi, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill, as amended, do 

pass. 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof 

the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area Act of 

2008’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) HERITAGE AREA.—The term ‘‘Heritage Area’’ means the Mississippi Hills 

National Heritage Area established by section 3(a). 

(2) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—The term ‘‘local coordinating entity’’ means 

the local coordinating entity for Heritage Area designated by section 3(c). 

(3) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘management plan’’ means the management plan for the Heritage Area required under section 4(a)(1). 

(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior. 

(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of Mississippi. 

SEC. 3. MISSISSIPPI HILLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Mississippi Hills National Heritage 

Area in the State. 

(b) BOUNDARIES.— 

(1) AFFECTED COUNTIES.—The Heritage Area shall consist of all, or portions 

of, as specified by the boundary description in paragraph (2), Alcorn, Attala, 

Benton, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, DeSoto, Grenada, Holmes, 

Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Lowndes, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Noxubee, 


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Oktibbeha, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Webster, Winston, and Yalobusha Counties in the State. 

(2) BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION.—The Heritage Area shall have the following 

boundary description: 

(A) traveling counterclockwise, the Heritage Area shall be bounded to the 

west by U.S. Highway 51 from the Tennessee State line until it intersects 

Interstate 55 (at Geeslin Corner approximately 1⁄2 mile due north of Highway Interchange 208); 

(B) from this point, Interstate 55 shall be the western boundary until it 

intersects with Mississippi Highway 12 at Highway Interchange 156, the 

intersection of which shall be the southwest terminus of the Heritage Area; 

(C) from the southwest terminus, the boundary shall— 

(i) extend east along Mississippi Highway 12 until it intersects U.S. 

Highway 51; 

(ii) follow Highway 51 south until it is intersected again by Highway 

12; 

(iii) extend along Highway 12 into downtown Kosciusko where it 

intersects Mississippi Highway 35; 

(iv) follow Highway 35 south until it is intersected by Mississippi 

Highway 14; and 

(v) extend along Highway 14 until it reaches the Alabama State line, 

the intersection of which shall be the southeast terminus of the Heritage Area; 

(D) from the southeast terminus, the boundary of the Heritage Area shall 

follow the Mississippi-Alabama State line until it reaches the MississippiTennessee State line, the intersection of which shall be the northeast terminus of the Heritage Area; and 

(E) the boundary shall extend due west until it reaches U.S. Highway 51, 

the intersection of which shall be the northwest terminus of the Heritage 

Area. 

(c) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area shall be 

the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance, a nonprofit organization registered 

by the State, with the cooperation and support of the University of Mississippi. 

(2) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The local coordinating entity shall be governed by a 

Board of Directors comprised of not more than 30 members. 

(B) COMPOSITION.—Members of the Board of Directors shall consist of— 

(i) not more than 1 representative from each of the counties described 

in subsection (b)(1); and 

(ii) any ex-officio members that may be appointed by the Board of Directors, as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary. 

SEC. 4. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY. 

(a) DUTIES OF THE LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—To further the purposes of the 

Heritage Area, the local coordinating entity shall— 

(1) prepare, and submit to the Secretary, in accordance with section 5, a management plan for the Heritage Area; 

(2) assist units of local government, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing the approved management plan by— 

(A) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs 

within the Heritage Area; 

(B) developing recreational opportunities in the Heritage Area; 

(C) increasing public awareness of, and appreciation for, natural, historical, cultural, archaeological, and recreational resources of the Heritage 

Area; 

(D) restoring historic sites and buildings in the Heritage Area that are 

consistent with the themes of the Heritage Area; and 

(E) carrying out any other activity that the local coordinating entity determines to be consistent with this Act; 

(3) conduct meetings open to the public at least annually regarding the development and implementation of the management plan; 

(4) submit an annual report to the Secretary for each fiscal year for which 

the local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this Act specifying— 

(A) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity; 

(B) the expenses and income of the local coordinating entity; 

(C) the amounts and sources of matching funds; 

(D) the amounts leveraged with Federal funds and sources of the leveraged funds; and 


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(E) grants made to any other entities during the fiscal year; 

(5) make available for audit for each fiscal year for which the local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this Act, all information pertaining 

to the expenditure of the funds and any matching funds; 

(6) require in all agreements authorizing expenditures of Federal funds by 

other organizations, that the receiving organizations make available for audit 

all records and other information pertaining to the expenditure of the funds; 

and 

(7) ensure that each county included in the Heritage Area is appropriately 

represented on any oversight advisory committee established under this Act to 

coordinate the Heritage Area. 

(b) AUTHORITIES.—The local coordinating entity may, subject to the prior approval 

of the Secretary, for the purposes of preparing and implementing the management 

plan, use Federal funds made available under this Act to—

(1) make grants and loans to the State, political subdivisions of the State, 

nonprofit organizations, and other persons; 

(2) enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide technical assistance to, 

the State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other 

organizations; 

(3) hire and compensate staff; 

(4) obtain funds or services from any source, including funds and services provided under any other Federal law or program; and 

(5) contract for goods or services. 

(c) PROHIBITION ON ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.—The local coordinating entity may not use Federal funds received under this Act to acquire any interest in real 

property. 

SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made 

available to develop the management plan, the local coordinating entity shall submit 

to the Secretary for approval a proposed management plan for the Heritage Area. 

(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The management plan for the Heritage Area shall—

(1) provide recommendations for the preservation, conservation, enhancement, 

funding, management, interpretation, development, and promotion of the cultural, historical, archaelogical, natural, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area; 

(2) specify existing and potential sources of funding or economic development 

strategies to protect, enhance, interpret, fund, manage, and develop the Heritage Area; 

(3) include—

(A) an inventory of the natural, historical, cultural, archaeological, and 

recreational resources of the Heritage Area; and 

(B) an analysis of how Federal, State, tribal, and local programs may best 

be coordinated to promote and carry out this Act; 

(4) provide recommendations for educational and interpretive programs to 

provide information to the public on the resources of the Heritage Area; and 

(5) involve residents of affected communities and tribal and local governments. 

(c) TERMINATION OF FUNDING.—If the management plan is not submitted to the 

Secretary in accordance with this subsection, the local coordinating entity shall not 

qualify for additional financial assistance under this Act until the management plan 

is submitted to, and approved by, the Secretary. 

(d) APPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT PLAN.—

(1) REVIEW.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary 

receives the management plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the 

management plan. 

(2) CONSULTATION REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall consult with the Governor 

of the State and any tribal government in which the Heritage Area is located 

before approving the management plan. 

(3) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—In determining whether to approve the management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether—

(A) the local coordinating entity represents the diverse interests of the 

Heritage Area, including governments, natural and historical resource protection organizations, educational institutions, businesses, community residents, and recreational organizations; 

(B) the local coordinating entity has afforded adequate opportunity for 

public and governmental involvement (including through workshops and 

public meetings) in the preparation of the management plan; 


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(C) the resource protection and interpretation strategies described in the 

management plan, if implemented, would adequately protect the natural, 

historical, cultural, archaeological, and recreational resources of the Heritage Area; 

(D) the management plan would not adversely affect any activities authorized on Federal or tribal land under applicable laws or land use plans; 

(E) the Secretary has received adequate assurances from the appropriate 

State, tribal, and local officials whose support is needed to ensure the effective implementation of the State, tribal, and local aspects of the management plan; and 

(F) the local coordinating entity has demonstrated the financial capability, in partnership with others, to carry out the management plan. 

(4) ACTION FOLLOWING DISAPPROVAL.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary disapproves the management plan, the 

Secretary—

(i) shall advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the reasons 

for the disapproval; and 

(ii) may make recommendations to the local coordinating entity for 

revisions to the management plan. 

(B) DEADLINE.—Not later than 180 days after receiving a revised management plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the revised management plan. 

(5) REVIEW; AMENDMENTS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—After approval by the Secretary of the management 

plan, the Alliance shall periodically—

(i) review the management plan; and 

(ii) submit to the Secretary, for review and approval by the Secretary, 

any recommendations for revisions to the management plan. 

(B) IN GENERAL.—An amendment to the management plan that substantially alters the purposes of the Heritage Area shall be reviewed by the Secretary and approved or disapproved in the same manner as the original 

management plan. 

(C) IMPLEMENTATION.—The local coordinating entity shall not use Federal 

funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act to implement an amendment to the management plan until the Secretary approves the amendment. 

SEC. 6. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY. 

(a) TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—On the request of the local coordinating entity, the Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis (as determined by the Secretary), to the local coordinating 

entity to develop and implement the management plan. 

(2) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary may enter into cooperative 

agreements with the local coordinating entity and other public or private entities to provide technical or financial assistance under paragraph (1). 

(3) PRIORITY.—In assisting the Heritage Area, the Secretary shall give priority to actions that assist in—

(A) conserving the significant natural, historical, cultural, archaeological, 

and recreational resources of the Heritage Area; and 

(B) providing educational, interpretive, and recreational opportunities 

consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area. 

(b) EVALUATION; REPORT.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years before the date on which authority 

for Federal funding terminates for the Heritage Area under section 10, the Secretary shall—

(A) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the Heritage Area; 

and 

(B) prepare a report with recommendations for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area, in accordance 

with paragraph (3). 

(2) EVALUATION.—An evaluation conducted under paragraph (1)(A) shall—

(A) assess the progress of the local coordinating entity with respect to—

(i) accomplishing the purposes of this Act for the Heritage Area; and 

(ii) achieving the goals and objectives of the approved management 

plan for the Heritage Area; 

(B) analyze the Federal, State, local, and private investments in the Heritage Area to determine the leverage and impact of the investments; and 


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(C) review the management structure, partnership relationships, and 

funding of the Heritage Area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the Heritage Area. 

(3) REPORT.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Based on the evaluation conducted under paragraph 

(1)(A), the Secretary shall prepare a report that includes recommendations 

for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the 

Heritage Area. 

(B) REQUIRED ANALYSIS.—If the report prepared under this paragraph 

recommends that Federal funding for the Heritage Area be reauthorized, 

the report shall include an analysis of—

(i) ways in which Federal funding for the Heritage Area may be reduced or eliminated; and 

(ii) the appropriate time period necessary to achieve the recommended reduction or elimination. 

(C) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—On completion of a report under this 

paragraph, the Secretary shall submit the report to—

(i) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; 

and 

(ii) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. 

SEC. 7. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act affects the authority of a Federal agency 

to provide technical or financial assistance under any other law. 

(b) CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.—To the maximum extent practicable, the 

head of any Federal agency planning to conduct activities that may have an impact 

on the Heritage Area is encouraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the 

Secretary and the local coordinating entity. 

(c) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Nothing in this Act—

(1) modifies, alters, or amends any laws (including regulations) authorizing a 

Federal agency to manage Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Federal 

agency; 

(2) limits the discretion of a Federal land manager to implement an approved 

land use plan within the boundaries of the Heritage Area; or 

(3) modifies, alters, or amends any authorized use of Federal land under the 

jurisdiction of a Federal agency. 

SEC. 8. EFFECT. 

(a) PROPERTY OWNERS AND REGULATORY PROTECTIONS.—Nothing in this Act—

(1) abridges the rights of any owner of public or private property, including 

the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity 

conducted within the Heritage Area; 

(2) requires any property owner to—

(A) permit public access (including Federal, tribal, State, or local government access) to the property; or 

(B) modify any provisions of Federal, tribal, State, or local law with regard to public access or use of private land; 

(3) alters any duly adopted land use regulations, approved land use plan, or 

any other regulatory authority of any Federal, State, or local agency, or tribal 

government; 

(4) conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to the local coordinating entity; 

(5) authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water 

rights; 

(6) diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting within the Heritage Area; or 

(7) creates any liability, or affects any liability under any other law, of any 

private property owner with respect to any person injured on the private property. 

(b) NO EFFECT ON INDIAN TRIBES.—Nothing in this Act—

(1) restricts an Indian tribe from protecting cultural or religious sites on tribal land; or 

(2) diminishes the trust responsibilities or government-to-government obligations of the United States to any Indian tribe recognized by the Federal Government. 


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SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 

$10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be made available for any fiscal year. 

(b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts made available under subsection (a) shall remain 

available until expended. 

(c) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the total cost of any activity under this 

Act shall be not more than 50 percent. 

(2) FORM.—The non-Federal contribution—

(A) shall be from non-Federal sources; and 

(B) may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly 

valued. 

SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. 

The authority of the Secretary to provide financial assistance under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of S. 2254 is to designate the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area in the State of Mississippi. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

The Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area encompasses 30 

counties in northeastern Mississippi, the southern most foothills of 

the Appalachian range. The area has been strongly influenced by 

the intersection of the distinctive cultures of Appalachia and the 

Mississippi Delta. The area includes the Natchez Trace Parkway, 

Tupelo National Battlefield, two national forests and other significant natural areas. It is also home of Elvis Presley’s ‘‘Graceland’’

and William Faulkner’s birthplace. The heritage area also includes 

Rust College, which was founded before 1867, and stands as one 

of the five remaining historically black colleges in the United 

States. 

The bill designates the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance 

as the management entity for the heritage area. A concept plan 

was developed by the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance in 

2004 to preserve the unique cultural, historical, archeological, natural, and recreational resources of the area. Pursuant to S. 2254, 

the Alliance will develop and submit to the Secretary a formal 

management plan within three years from the enactment of this 

Act. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 2254 was introduced by Senator Cochran on October 29, 2007. 

Senator Wicker is a cosponsor. The Subcommittee on National 

Parks held a hearing on S. 2254 on April 9, 2008. 

At its business meeting on May 7, 2008, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 2254 favorably reported, 

with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on May 7, 2008, by a voice vote of a quorum present, 

recommends that the Senate pass S. 2254, if amended as described 

herein. 


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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

During the consideration of S. 2254, the Committee adopted an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment removes 

the findings section, incorporates language consistent with other 

national heritage area designations reported by the Committee, 

and makes other clarifying and conforming changes. The amendment is described in detail in the section-by-section analysis, below. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 provides the short title, the ‘‘Mississippi Hills National 

Heritage Area Act’’. 

Section 2 defines key terms used in the bill. 

Section 3(a) establishes the boundaries of the Mississippi Hills 

National Heritage Area. 

Subsection (b) describes the boundaries of the heritage area. 

Subsection (c) requires that the heritage area boundary map be 

on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices 

of the National Park Service. 

Subsection (d) designates the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area Partnership as the local coordinating entity for the heritage area, and describes the composition of the Partnership’s Board 

of Directors. 

Section 4(a) requires the local coordinating entity to prepare a 

management plan for the heritage area. The subsection also lists 

the duties of the local coordinating entity. 

Subsection (b) describes the authorities of the local coordinating 

entity. 

Subsection (c) prohibits the local coordinating entity from acquiring real property using funds received under this Act. 

Section 5(a) requires the local coordinating entity to submit a 

proposed management plan to the Secretary of the Interior not 

later than 3 years after the day of enactment of the Act. 

Subsection (b) lists the requirements for the management plan. 

Subsection (c) provides that the local coordinating entity shall 

not qualify for additional financial assistance until the management plan is submitted to the Secretary in accordance with this 

section. 

Subsection (d) requires the Secretary to approve or disapprove of 

the management plan within 180 days after the receipt of the plan. 

Section 6(a) authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to the local coordinating entity to develop and 

implement the management plan. The Secretary is also authorized 

to enter into cooperative agreements with the local coordinating entity and other public and private entities to provide technical and 

financial assistance. 

Subsection (b) requires that the Secretary conduct an evaluation 

of the Heritage Area no later than 3 years before the date on which 

authority for federal funding terminates. The Secretary shall then 

prepare a report with required analysis and recommendations for 

the National Park Service, and whether federal funding should be 

reauthorized for the heritage area. On completion of the report, the 

Secretary shall submit the report to Congress. 

Section 7 describes the relationship of other Federal agencies to 

the heritage area. 


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Subsection (a) clarifies that nothing in this Act affects the authority of a Federal agency to provide technical or financial assistance under any other law. 

Subsection (b) authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and 

financial assistance to the local coordinating entity to develop and 

implement the management plan. 

Subsection (c) encourages the head of a Federal agency planning 

to conduct activities that may have an impact on the heritage area 

to consult and coordinate the activities with the Secretary and the 

management entity to the maximum extent practicable. 

Subsection (c) clarifies that nothing in this Act modifies authorities of Federal agencies to manage Federal land, limits the discretion of a Federal agency to implement an approved land use plan, 

or modifies or alters any authorized use of Federal land. 

Section 8 contains several savings provisions to clarify that the 

designation of the national heritage area will not affect private 

property rights, affect governmental land use regulation, reserve or 

appropriate water rights, diminish the authority of the State to 

manage fish and wildlife, or create any liability for property owners 

within the heritage area. 

Section 9(a) authorizes total appropriations of $10 million, with not more than $1 million authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year. 

Subsection (b) requires Federal funding to be matched on a 50:50 

basis with funds from non-Federal sources. 

Section 10 provides that the authority of the Secretary to provide 

assistance under this Act terminates 15 years after the date of enactment. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 2254—Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area Act of 2008 

S. 2254 would establish the Mississippi Hills National Heritage 

Area (NHA) in Mississippi and designate the Mississippi Hills Heritage Alliance, a local nonprofit organization as the management 

entity for the NHA. The bill would authorize the appropriation of 

$10 million, not to exceed $1 million annually, for financial assistance to the alliance and other eligible entities over the next 15 

years. 

Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO esti- mates that implementing S. 2254 would cost $5 million over the 

2009–2013 period and an additional $5 million after 2013. Enacting 

the legislation would have no effect on direct spending or revenues. 

S. 2254 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. This estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation 


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of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out 

S. 2254. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. 

No personal information would be collected in administering the 

program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. 

Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of S. 2254, as ordered reported. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

In accordance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the following identification of congressionally directed spending items contained in the 

bill, as reported: 

Section Provision Member 

9 ............................................. Authorization of appropriations ............................................. Cochran 

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the April 

23, 2008, hearing on S. 2254 follows: 

STATEMENT OF KATHERINE H. STEVENSON, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BUSINESS SERVICES, NATIONAL PARK

SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, thank 

you for the opportunity to appear before you today to 

present the views of the Department of the Interior on S. 

2254, a bill to establish the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area in the State of Mississippi. 

The Department cannot support S. 2254 unless the bill 

is amended to be a feasibility study for a Mississippi Hills 

National Heritage Area in the State of Mississippi. The 

Department believes that a feasibility study should be required for every proposed national heritage area and the 

study should be evaluated against our interim criteria before designation. The standards for evaluating areas proposed for national designation are an essential element 

prior to establishing a national heritage area. A study 

should be prepared that demonstrates evidence of placebased resources that tell a nationally important story, 

which has the support and involvement of the local community. 

Although the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance 

has completed a ‘‘Three-Year Strategic Plan for the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area’’ and an impressive array of 

partners and potential funders has been assembled, fundamental questions have yet to be formally addressed regarding the region’s eligibility for designation as a national 

heritage area. 

The Department is willing to provide advice or assistance in the completion of a study that meets applicable 

standards and provides Congress with the necessary inforVerDate Aug 31 2005 08:52 Jun 17, 2008 Jkt 069010 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6969 E:\HR\OC\SR364.XXX SR364

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mation and assessment upon which to base its decision regarding designation in the future. 

With 37 national heritage areas designated across 27 

states, and more heritage area legislative proposals forthcoming, the Administration believes it is critical for Congress to enact national heritage area program legislation. 

This legislation would provide a much-needed framework 

for evaluating proposed national heritage areas, offering 

guidelines for successful planning and management, clarifying the roles and responsibilities of all parties, and 

standardizing timeframes and funding for designated 

areas. Program legislation would also clarify the expectation that heritage areas would work toward self-sufficiency 

by outlining the necessary steps, including appropriate 

planning, to achieve that goal. 

S. 2254 would establish the Mississippi Hills National 

Heritage Area in northeast Mississippi. The area would 

encompass all or part of 30 counties. It would also include 

the Delta National Forest. The bill designates the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance as the management 

entity. The Alliance is a non-profit organization registered 

by the State of Mississippi, with the cooperation and support of the University of Mississippi. The bill provides for 

the development of a management plan that would inventory resources of the area, recommend conservation measures, identify sources of funding, and consider public involvement mechanisms. 

The bill would authorize Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area to promote and help conserve a number of important natural and cultural resources. Included within its 

proposed boundaries are the sites of important Civil War 

battles, the birthplaces of a number of noteworthy Americans, the first public college for women in the United 

States, the Mississippi University for Women, and Rust 

College, founded in 1866, which is one of the oldest black 

colleges in the United States. The proposed Mississippi 

National Heritage Area would encompass the Natchez 

Trace Parkway; the Holly Springs and Tombigbee National 

Forests; the Sardis, Enid, and Grenada Lakes; the Strawberry Plains State Audubon Center; the Tishomingo State 

Park; and the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. 

Mr. Chairman, the Department is prepared to work with 

the subcommittee on amending S. 2254 to authorize a feasibility study for a Mississippi Hills National Heritage 

Area, in the State of Mississippi. 

This concludes my prepared remarks. I would be pleased 

to answer any questions you or any members of the Subcommittee may have. 


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CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no changes in existing law are made by the bill, S. 2254, as ordered reported. 

Æ 


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