I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2359 

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 National Heritage Corridor, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 5, 2021 

Mr. CUELLAR (for himself and Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas) 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 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 April 2020. 

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, State nat12 ural resource agencies, and other appropriate re13 gional and local organizations or agencies, shall con14 duct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility 

15 of designating the study area as the Los Caminos 

16 del Rio National Heritage Corridor. 

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

18 (A) the portion of the Rio Grande River 

19 and surrounding areas, as generally depicted on 

20 the map; and 

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

22 that— 

23 (i) have a shared heritage with the 

24 areas depicted on the map described in 

25 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 by residents and visitors; 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 that share a com19 mon heritage; 

20 (B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, 

21 and folklife that are a valuable part of the story 

22 of the United States; 

23 (C) provides— 


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1 (i) outstanding opportunities to con2 serve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic 

3 features; and 

4 (ii) outstanding recreational and edu5 cational and cultural tourism opportuni6 ties; 

7 (D) contains resources that— 

8 (i) are important to any identified 

9 themes of the study area; and 

10 (ii) retain a degree of integrity capa11 ble of supporting interpretation; 

12 (E) includes residents, business interests, 

13 nonprofit organizations, including museums and 

14 heritage organizations, and State and local gov15 ernments that— 

16 (i) are involved in the planning of the 

17 Corridor; 

18 (ii) have developed a conceptual finan19 cial plan that outlines the roles of all par20 ticipants in the Corridor, including the 

21 Federal Government; and 

22 (iii) have demonstrated support for 

23 the designation of the Corridor; 

24 (F) has a potential management entity to 

25 work in partnership with the individuals and 


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1 entities described in subparagraph (E) to de2 velop the Corridor while encouraging State and 

3 local economic activity; and 

4 (G) has a conceptual boundary map that is 

5 supported by the public. 

6 (c) REPORT.—Not later than the end of the third fis7 cal year after the date on which funds are first made avail8 able for this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 

9 Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep10 resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 

11 Resources of the Senate a report that describes— 

12 (1) the findings of the study; and 

13 (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the 

14 Secretary. 

Æ 


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