59–010 

Calendar No. 375 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 110–177 

ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT 

SEPTEMBER 17, 2007.—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. 955] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 955) to establish the Abraham Lincoln National 

Heritage Area, and for other purposes, having considered the same, 

reports favorably thereon with an 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 ‘‘Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Act’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) HERITAGE AREA.—The term ‘‘Heritage Area’’ means the Abraham Lincoln 

National Heritage Area established by section 3(a). 

(2) MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—The term ‘‘management entity’’ means the management entity for the Heritage Area designated by section 4(a). 

(3) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘management plan’’ means the plan developed by the management entity under section 5(a). 

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

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

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the State the Abraham Lincoln National 

Heritage Area. 

(b) BOUNDARIES.—The Heritage Area shall include— 

(1) a core area located in central Illinois, consisting of Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Dewitt, Douglas, 

Edgar, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Henderson, Jersey, Knox, LaSalle, 

Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Mason, McDonough, McLean, Menard, 

Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, 

Shelby, Tazwell, Vermillion, Warren, and Woodford counties; 


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(2) any sites, buildings, and districts within the core area that are recommended in the management plan; and 

(3) each of the following sites: 

(A) Lincoln Home National Historic Site. 

(B) Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site. 

(C) Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site. 

(D) Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum. 

(E) Thomas and Sara Bush Lincoln Log Cabin and Living History Farm 

State Historic Site. 

(F) Mt. Pulaski, Postville State Historic Sites and Metamora Courthouse. 

(G) Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site. 

(H) David Davis Mansion State Historic Site. 

(I) Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site. 

(J) Lincoln Douglas Debate Museum. 

(K) Macon County Log Court House. 

(L) Richard J. Oglesby Mansion. 

(M) Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial. 

(N) Governor John Wood Mansion. 

(O) Beardstown Courthouse. 

(P) Old Main at Knox College. 

(Q) Carl Sandburg Home State Historic Site. 

(R) Bryant Cottage State Historic Site. 

(S) Dr. William Fithian Home. 

(T) Vermillion County Museum. 

(c) MAP.—A map of the Heritage Area shall be—

(1) included in the management plan; and 

(2) on file in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service. 

SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF COALITION AS MANAGEMENT ENTITY. 

(a) MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition shall be 

the management entity for the Heritage Area. 

(b) AUTHORITIES OF MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—The management entity may, for purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, use Federal funds 

made available under this Act—

(1) to prepare reports, studies, interpretive exhibits and programs, historic 

preservation projects, and other activities recommended in the management 

plan for the Heritage Area; 

(2) to pay for operational expenses of the management entity; 

(3) to make grants to the State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit 

organizations, and other persons; 

(4) to enter into cooperative agreements with the State, political subdivisions 

of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other organizations; 

(5) to hire and compensate staff; 

(6) to obtain funds or services from any source, including funds and services 

provided under any other Federal program or law; and 

(7) to contract for goods and services. 

(c) DUTIES OF MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—To further the purposes of the Heritage 

Area, the management entity shall—

(1) prepare a management plan for the Heritage Area in accordance with section 5; 

(2) give priority to the implementation of actions, goals, and strategies set 

forth in the management plan, including assisting units of government and 

other persons in—

(A) carrying out programs and projects that recognize and protect important resource values in the Heritage Area; 

(B) encouraging economic viability in the Heritage Area in accordance 

with the goals of the management plan; 

(C) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits in the Heritage 

Area; 

(D) developing heritage-based recreational and educational opportunities 

for residents and visitors in the Heritage Area; 

(E) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for the natural, historic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; 

(F) restoring historic buildings that are—

(i) located in the Heritage Area; and 

(ii) related to the themes of the Heritage Area; and 

(G) installing throughout the Heritage Area clear, consistent, and appropriate signs identifying public access points and sites of interest; 


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(3) consider the interests of diverse units of government, businesses, tourism 

officials, private property owners, and nonprofit groups within the Heritage 

Area in developing and implementing the management plan; 

(4) conduct public meetings at least semiannually regarding the development 

and implementation of the management plan; and 

(5) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds are received under this Act—

(A) submit to the Secretary an annual report that describes—

(i) the accomplishments of the management entity; 

(ii) the expenses and income of the management entity; and 

(iii) the entities to which the management entity made any grants; 

(B) make available for audit all records relating to the expenditure of the 

Federal funds and any matching funds; and 

(C) require, with respect to all agreements authorizing the expenditure 

of Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving organizations 

make available for audit all records relating to the expenditure of the Federal funds. 

(d) PROHIBITION ON ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The management entity shall not use Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property or any interest in real property. 

(2) OTHER SOURCES.—Nothing in this Act precludes the management entity 

from using Federal funds from other sources for authorized purposes, including 

the acquisition of real property or any interest in real property. 

SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN. 

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

made available to carry out this Act, the management entity shall prepare and submit for review to the Secretary a management plan for the Heritage Area. 

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

(1) include comprehensive policies, strategies, and recommendations for the 

conservation, funding, management, and development of the Heritage Area; 

(2) take into consideration existing State, county, and local plans; 

(3) specify the existing and potential sources of funding to protect, manage, 

and develop the Heritage Area during the first 5 years of implementation of the 

management plan; 

(4) include—

(A) a description of actions that governments, private organizations, and 

individuals have agreed to take to protect the natural, historic, and cultural 

resources of the Heritage Area; 

(B) an inventory of the natural, historic, cultural, education, scenic, and 

recreational resources of the Heritage Area relating to the themes of the 

Heritage Area that should be preserved, restored, managed, developed or 

maintained; and 

(C) an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area; and 

(5) describe a program of implementation for the management plan, including—

(A) plans for resource protection, restoration, and construction; and 

(B) specific commitments for implementation during the first 5 years of 

implementation. 

(c) DISQUALIFICATION FROM FUNDING.—If a proposed management plan is not submitted to the Secretary by the date that is 3 years after the date on which funds 

are first made available to carry out this Act, the management entity may not receive additional funding under this Act until the date on which the Secretary receives the proposed management plan. 

(d) APPROVAL AND DISAPPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT PLAN.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the management entity submits the management plan to the Secretary, the Secretary 

shall approve or disapprove the proposed management plan. 

(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In determining whether to approve or disapprove the 

management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether—

(A) the management entity is representative of the diverse interests of 

the Heritage Area, including governments, natural and historic resource 

protection organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and recreational organizations; 

(B) the management entity has provided adequate opportunities (including public hearings) for public and governmental involvement in the preparation of the management plan; 

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

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

historic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; and 


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(D) the management plan is supported by the appropriate State and local 

officials, the cooperation of which is needed to ensure the effective implementation of the State and local aspects of the management plan. 

(3) DISAPPROVAL AND REVISIONS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary disapproves a proposed management 

plan, the Secretary shall—

(i) advise the management entity, in writing, of the reasons for the 

disapproval; and 

(ii) make recommendations for revision of the proposed management 

plan. 

(B) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL.—The Secretary shall approve or disapprove a revised management plan not later than 180 days after the date 

on which the revised management plan is submitted. 

(e) APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall review and approve or disapprove substantial amendments to the management plan in accordance with subsection 

(d). 

(2) FUNDING.—Funds appropriated under this Act may not be expended to implement any changes made by an amendment to the management plan until the 

Secretary approves the amendment. 

SEC. 6. 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.—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 management entity to the maximum extent practicable. 

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

(1) modifies, alters, or amends any law or regulation 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. 7. PRIVATE PROPERTY AND REGULATORY PROTECTIONS. 

Nothing in this Act—

(1) abridges the rights of any property owner (whether public or private), 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 permit public access (including access by 

Federal, State, or local agencies) to the property of the property owner, or to 

modify public access or use of property of the property owner under any other 

Federal, State, or local law; 

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

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

land use or other regulatory authority to the management entity; 

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

rights; 

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

(6) 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. 

SEC. 8. EVALUATION; REPORT. 

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

Federal funding terminates for the Heritage Area, the Secretary shall—

(1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the Heritage Area; and 

(2) prepare a report in accordance with subsection (c). 

(b) EVALUATION.—An evaluation conducted under subsection (a)(1) shall—

(1) assess the progress of the management entity with respect to—

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

(B) achieving the goals and objectives of the approved management plan 

for the Heritage Area; 

(2) 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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(3) 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. 

(c) REPORT.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Based on the evaluation conducted under subsection (a)(1), 

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. 

(2) REQUIRED ANALYSIS.—If the report prepared under paragraph (1) recommends that Federal funding for the Heritage Area be reauthorized, the report shall include an analysis of—

(A) ways in which Federal funding for the Heritage Area may be reduced 

or eliminated; and 

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

(3) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—On completion of the report, the Secretary 

shall submit the report to—

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

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

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 authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year. 

(b) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.—The Federal share of the cost of any activity 

carried out using funds made available under this Act shall be not more than 50 

percent. 

SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY. 

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. 955 is to designate the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area in Illinois. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area would encompass 

an area spanning 41 Central Illinois counties, including Presidential sites in Springfield as well as other notable sites including 

the Lincoln–Douglas Debate Museum in Charleston, and the 

Macon County Log Courthouse in Decatur. 

In 1998, the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, a consortium 

of Illinois communities that share the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, 

coordinated a community effort to promote tourism related to the 

various aspects of Lincoln’s life. As a result of these efforts, the 

concept of a broader National Heritage Area was developed, centered around the Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the 

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, both in 

Springfield. Other significant historic sites within the proposed 

heritage area include the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and the 

Lincoln–Douglas Debate Museum. 

The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition has prepared and 

submitted to the National Park Service a feasibility study for the 

proposed Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. The study concluded that the proposal satisfies all of the criteria for designation 

as a National Heritage Area. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 955 was introduced by Senators Durbin and Obama on March 

21, 2007. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on 

the bill on July 12, 2007. At its business meeting on July 25, 2007, 


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the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 955 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 July 25, 2007, by a voice vote of a quorum present, 

recommends that the Senate pass S. 955, if amended as described 

herein. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

During its consideration of S. 955, the Committee adopted an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment deletes 

the Congressional findings, and modifies the management language 

for the heritage area to make it consistent with the authorities provided for other national heritage areas. The amendment also adds 

a requirement that the Secretary of the Interior conduct an evaluation of the heritage area not later than three years before the date 

authority for Federal funding terminates, to assess the progress of 

the management entity in accomplishing the purposes for which 

the heritage area was established and whether the goals and objectives of the management plan for the heritage area were achieved. 

The Secretary is required to submit a report of the findings of the 

evaluation to the Congressional authorizing Committees. 

The amendment is explained in detail in the section-by-section 

analysis, below. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 provides the short title, the ‘‘Abraham Lincoln National 

Heritage Area Act.’’

Section 2 defines key terms used in the Act. 

Section 3(a) establishes the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage 

Area (‘‘heritage area’’) in the State of Illinois. 

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

lists the counties and significant historic site that the heritage area 

encompasses. 

Subsection (c) states that a map of the heritage area shall be included in the management plan and available on file in appropriate 

offices of the National Park Service. 

Section 4(a) designates the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition as the management entity for the heritage area. 

Subsection (b) lists the authorities of the management entity. 

The subsection authorizes the management entity to use Federal 

funds to prepare activities recommended in the management plan 

for the heritage area, pay for operational expenses, make grants 

and enter into cooperative agreements, hire staff, obtain funds or 

services from any source, and contract for goods or services. 

Subsection (c) details the duties of the management entity. 

Subsection (d) prohibits the management entity from using Federal funds made available under this Act to acquire real property 

or an interest in real property, although it may use Federal funds 

from other sources for authorized purposes, which may include 

property acquisition. 

Section 5(a) requires the management entity to prepare and submit for review a management plan to the Secretary no later than 


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three years after the date on which the funds are made available 

to carry out this Act. 

Subsection (b) provides the requirements for the contents of the 

management plan. 

Subsection (c) states that if the management plan is not submitted within the three-year period, Federal funding is suspended 

until the plan is submitted to the Secretary. 

Subsection (d) requires the Secretary to approve or disapprove 

the management plan within six months after receiving the plan 

and lists the criteria the Secretary is to consider in determining 

whether to approve or disapprove the plan. 

Subsection (e) requires that the Secretary review and approve or 

disapprove any amendment that would make a substantial change 

to the management plan. 

Section 6 describes the relationship of other Federal agencies to 

the heritage area. 

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) 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 7 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 8(a) requires the Secretary to conduct an evaluation of 

the accomplishments of the national heritage area not later than 

three years before the date Federal funding authority terminates. 

Subsection (b) provides that the evaluation shall assess the 

progress of the management entity with respect to accomplishing 

the purposes of this Act for the heritage area and whether the 

management entity achieved the goals and objectives of the approved management plan for the heritage area. The evaluation is 

also required to analyze governmental investments in the heritage 

area to determine the leverage and impact of the investments. 

Subsection (c) requires the Secretary to prepare a report, based 

on the evaluation, that includes recommendations for the future 

role of the National Park Service, if any, for the heritage area. If 

the report recommends that Federal funding for the area be reauthorized, it is required to include an analysis of ways Federal funding may be reduced or eliminated. The report is to be submitted 

to the House and Senate authorizing committees. 

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. 


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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: 

JULY 31, 2007. 

Hon. JEFF BINGAMAN, 

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 

U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 955, the Abraham Lincoln 

National Heritage Area Act. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew Pickford. 

Sincerely, 

PETER R. ORSZAG. 

Enclosure. 

S. 955—Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Act 

Summary: S. 955 would establish the Abraham Lincoln National 

Heritage Area (NHA) in the state of Illinois. The bill would designate the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition (a consortium of 

Illinois communities) to serve as the management entity for the 

proposed NHA. The coalition would be responsible for developing a 

management plan for the NHA and for assisting local governments 

and nonprofit agencies in implementing the plan. In addition, the 

legislation would require the Department of the Interior to report 

to the Congress on the work of the NHA. 

The legislation would authorize the appropriation of $10 million, 

not to exceed $1 million annually, for financial assistance to the coalition or other eligible entities over the next 15 years. CBO estimates that implementing S. 955 would cost $5 million over the 

2008–2012 period, with additional amounts spent after 2012. 

Enacting S. 955 would have no effect on direct spending or revenues. S. 955 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of S. 955 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources 

and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Estimated Authorization Level ................................................................................ 1 1 1 1 1 

Estimated Outlays ................................................................................................... 1 1 1 1 1 

Basis of estimate: Assuming appropriation of the authorized 

amounts, CBO estimates that implementing S. 955 would cost $5 

million over the 2008–2012 period and $5 million over the following 

five to 10 years. Such amounts would be used to cover a portion 


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of the costs of reporting, planning, establishing, operating, and interpreting the heritage area. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 955 contains no 

intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA. 

State and local governments would benefit from grants and technical assistance authorized by the bill. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Matthew Pickford. Impact 

on State, local, and tribal governments: Leo Lex. Impact on the private sector: Craig Cammarata. 

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, 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 

of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out 

S. 955. 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. 955, as ordered reported. 

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The testimony provided by the Department of the Interior at the 

July 12, 2007, Subcommittee hearing on S. 955 follows: 

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

SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear 

before your committee to present the views of the Department of the Interior on S. 955, a bill to establish the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area in the State of Illinois. 

In 1998, the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Project, a 

grassroots organization in central Illinois, coordinated a 

community effort to promote tourism, using the various aspects of Abraham Lincoln’s life. It initially focused on single projects and strategic planning with a variety of public 

and private resources to help local communities research 

their connections to Lincoln and his times. However, as 

they moved forward, the scope of the project broadened to 

identify and promote the various natural, social, and cultural landscapes that made up Lincoln’s life. As a result, 

work toward developing a National Heritage Area (NHA) 

began with the idea that the National Park Service’s Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the future Abraham 

Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum would serve as 

the central core. 

The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition submitted a 

feasibility study to designate the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area to the National Park Service for reVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:33 Sep 22, 2007 Jkt 059010 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6969 E:\HR\OC\SR177.XXX SR177

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view. The study concluded that the region met all of the 

criteria for designation as a NHA. Nevertheless, we recommend that the committee defer action on S. 955 and all 

other proposed heritage area designations until program 

legislation is enacted that establishes guidelines and a 

process for the designation of NHAs. 

Last year, the Administration sent to Congress a legislative proposal to establish guidelines and a process for designation. Bills were introduced in the 109th Congress (S. 

243, H.R. 760 and H.R. 6287) that incorporated the majority of the provisions of the Administration’s proposal, and 

S. 243 passed the Senate. During the 110th Congress, a 

similar heritage area program bill, S. 278, has been introduced, and we look forward to continuing to work with 

Congress on this very important issue. 

With 37 national heritage areas designated across 27 

states, and more heritage area legislative proposals in the 

pipeline, the Administration believes it is critical at this 

juncture for Congress to enact NHA program legislation. 

This legislation would provide a much-needed framework 

for evaluating proposed NHAs, 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 also would clarify the expectation that heritage areas 

work toward self-sufficiency by outlining the necessary 

steps, including appropriate planning, to achieve that 

shared goal. 

S. 955 establishes the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area in a core area defined by 42 counties in central 

Illinois. We expect that the final boundary may be a more 

manageable size. The area includes rich opportunities 

where visitors may experience the physical environment of 

rivers, woodlands, and prairies familiar to Abraham Lincoln and his generation. There are many cultural and historic sites, including the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, 

the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Lincoln 

Douglas Debate Museum, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, and a broad diversity of 

folklife throughout the ‘‘Land of Lincoln.’’

S. 955 designates the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition as the management entity and outlines its duties. 

The bill also authorizes the development of a management 

plan within three years of enactment and authorizes the 

use of federal funds to develop and implement that plan. 

If the plan is not submitted within three years of enactment of this Act, the NHA becomes ineligible for federal 

funding until a plan is submitted to the Secretary. Additionally, the Secretary may, at the request of the management entity, provide technical assistance and enter into cooperative agreements with other public and private entities. 

S. 955 also contains safeguards to protect private property, including a prohibition on the use of federal funds to 


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acquire real property. The bill proposes no new restrictions 

with regard to public use and access to private property. 

Abraham Lincoln was an itinerate lawyer who traveled 

extensively through a large region in central Illinois. 

Hours spent riding through the area, mostly by horseback, 

bonded the man and the landscape together. The region 

tells the comprehensive story of this important man, lawyer, husband, father, and our nation’s 16th President. It is 

here that Abraham Lincoln pondered this nation, formed 

his convictions, and even created his debate platform for 

the now famous Lincoln-Douglas debates still resounding 

across this region through continued dialog of the same 

themes. 

Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd, owned only one home 

in the heart of Illinois, and it is here that he returned for his permanent rest. The home itself and the neighborhood describe an 

emotional Abraham Lincoln, who opened his farewell remarks to 

the citizens of Springfield, Illinois on February 11, 1861 with these 

words: ‘‘My friends—No one, not in my situation, can appreciate 

my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything.’’ He might very well have 

been speaking to friends and neighbors he had met with and represented as their lawyer throughout the 24 years he had ridden 

throughout the region. Lincoln left the home he and his family had 

lived in for 17 years to serve as president of a nation on the verge 

of a civil war. 

While the proposed Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area 

contains significant natural, historical, and cultural resources, we 

would again request that the committee defer action until national 

heritage area program legislation is enacted. 

If the Committee chooses to move forward with this bill, the Department would recommend that the bill be amended to include an 

additional requirement for an evaluation to be conducted by the 

Secretary, three years prior to the cessation of federal funding 

under this act. The evaluation would examine the accomplishments 

of the heritage area in meeting the goals of the management plan; 

analyze the leveraging and impact of investments to the heritage 

area; identify the critical components of the management structure 

and sustainability of the heritage area; and recommend what future role, if any, the National Park Service should have with respect to the heritage area. 

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared remarks. I would be 

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

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. 955, as ordered reported. 

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bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with REPORTS