I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2167 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess 

the suitability and feasibility of designating certain lands as the Los 

Caminos del Rio Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Corridor, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 29, 2009 

Mr. CUELLAR (for himself, Mr. HINOJOSA, and Mr. ORTIZ) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 

study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain lands as the Los Caminos del Rio Los 

Caminos del Rio National Heritage Corridor, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. LOS CAMINOS DEL RIO. 

4 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

5 (1) CORRIDOR.—The term ‘‘Corridor’’ means 

6 the Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Cor7 ridor. 


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1 (2) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map ti2 tled ‘‘Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Cor3 ridor’’ and dated July 2007. 

4 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

5 the Secretary of the Interior. 

6 (4) STUDY AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 

7 means the study area described in subsection (b)(2). 

8 (b) STUDY.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta10 tion with State historic preservation officers, State 

11 historical societies, State tourism offices, and other 

12 appropriate organizations or agencies, shall conduct 

13 a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of 

14 designating the study area as the Los Caminos del 

15 Rio National Heritage Corridor. 

16 (2) STUDY AREA.—The study area includes— 

17 (A) the portion of the Rio Grande River 

18 and surrounding areas, as generally depicted on 

19 the map; and 

20 (B) any other areas in the State of Texas 

21 that— 

22 (i) have heritage aspects that are 

23 similar to the areas depicted on the map 

24 described in subparagraph (A); and 


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1 (ii) are adjacent to, or in the vicinity 

2 of, those areas. 

3 (3) REQUIREMENTS.—The study shall include 

4 analysis, documentation, and determinations on 

5 whether the study area— 

6 (A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, 

7 and cultural resources that— 

8 (i) represent distinctive aspects of the 

9 heritage of the United States; 

10 (ii) are worthy of recognition, con11 servation, interpretation, and continuing 

12 use; and 

13 (iii) would be best managed— 

14 (I) through partnerships among 

15 public and private entities; and 

16 (II) by linking diverse and some17 times noncontiguous resources and ac18 tive communities; 

19 (B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, 

20 and folklife that are a valuable part of the story 

21 of the United States; 

22 (C) provides— 

23 (i) outstanding opportunities to con24 serve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic 

25 features; and 


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1 (ii) outstanding recreational and edu2 cational opportunities; 

3 (D) contains resources that— 

4 (i) are important to any identified 

5 themes of the study area; and 

6 (ii) retain a degree of integrity capa7 ble of supporting interpretation; 

8 (E) includes residents, business interests, 

9 nonprofit organizations, and State and local 

10 governments that— 

11 (i) are involved in the planning of the 

12 Corridor; 

13 (ii) have developed a conceptual finan14 cial plan that outlines the roles of all par15 ticipants in the Corridor, including the 

16 Federal Government; and 

17 (iii) have demonstrated support for 

18 the designation of the Corridor; 

19 (F) has a potential management entity to 

20 work in partnership with the individuals and 

21 entities described in subparagraph (E) to de22 velop the Corridor while encouraging State and 

23 local economic activity; and 

24 (G) has a conceptual boundary map that is 

25 supported by the public. 


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1 (c) REPORT.—Not later than the end of the third fis2 cal year after the date on which funds are first made avail3 able for this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 

4 Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep5 resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 

6 Resources of the Senate a report that describes— 

7 (1) the findings of the study; and 

8 (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the 

9 Secretary. 

Æ 


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