Explore America Act of 2021

To amend title 54, United States Code, to authorize the provision of technical assistance under the Preserve America Program and to direct the Secretary of the Interior to enter into partnerships with communities adjacent to units of the National Park System to leverage local cultural heritage tourism assets. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Explore America Act of 2021 2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to strengthen economic development across the United States by supporting cultural heritage tourism and historic preservation activities through the Preserve America Program; and (2) to encourage the Director of the National Park Service to partner with gateway communities (including Native American communities and National Heritage Areas) to leverage local cultural and historic heritage tourism assets. 3. Preserve America grant program (a) Establishment Section 311102 of title 54, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting and the Secretary of Commerce Council (B) by adding at the end the following: (3) Advisory role of Secretary of Commerce The Secretary of Commerce shall advise the program with respect to job creation, economic growth, and tourism policy and promotion. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (f) Technical assistance (1) In general For any fiscal year for which funds are not made available to provide grants under this section, to the extent practicable, the program shall, in lieu of the grants, provide technical assistance to the eligible entities described in subsection (a) for projects that meet the eligibility requirements described in subsection (b), as identified on the list of projects prepared by the Secretary in accordance with subsection (d). (2) Limitation The Secretary may take into account the availability of staff resources at the Department of the Interior, the Council, and the Department of Commerce for purposes of determining the number of projects that are provided technical assistance under this subsection. (3) Form The form of technical assistance under paragraph (1) may include technical assistance provided by— (A) the Director, with respect to— (i) best practices in visitor services; (ii) the conduct of research, inventories, and surveys; (iii) the documentation of historic resources; and (iv) the interpretation and promotion of cultural and heritage assets; (B) the Council, with respect to historic preservation initiatives and best practices in stewardship; and (C) the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to economic development and job creation resources. . (b) Program Metrics Chapter 3111 (1) by redesignating section 311105 as section 311106; and (2) by inserting after section 311104 the following: 311105. Reports (a) Metrics Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Explore America Act of 2021 (1) the economic impact of the program on local communities (including Native American communities and National Heritage Areas); and (2) the effect of the program on efforts to preserve heritage resources. (b) Grantee report Not later than 2 years after the date on which a grantee receives a grant or technical assistance under this chapter, the grantee shall submit to the Secretary a report that— (1) describes the outcome of the project that was provided a grant or technical assistance under this chapter; and (2) based on the metrics developed under subsection (a), assesses— (A) the accomplishments of the project; and (B) the impact of the project on the community in which the project was carried out. (c) Annual reports The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the appropriate committees of Congress that includes data provided by grantees to demonstrate the economic impact of the program. . (c) Conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 3111 311105. Reports. 311106. Authorization of appropriations. . 4. National park service partnerships with gateway communities (a) In general Subdivision 1 of division B of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 3092 Partnerships with gateway communities Sec. 309201. Definitions. 309202. Partnerships with gateway communities. 309203. Report. 309204. Authorization of appropriations. 309201. Definitions In this chapter: (1) Appropriate congressional committee The term appropriate congressional committee (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; (D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; (E) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and (F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Gateway Community The term gateway community (3) Heritage Tourism The term heritage tourism 309202. Partnerships with gateway communities (a) In general The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, offer to enter into partnerships with gateway communities to leverage heritage tourism assets to strengthen local economies and create jobs in the gateway communities with the goal of establishing a standardized framework for partnerships throughout the System, including through— (1) providing financial assistance to gateway communities to support outreach and promotional efforts; (2) providing technical assistance to gateway communities based on Service best practices in tourism development and visitor management, such as— (A) inventorying tourism resources in the gateway community; (B) identifying historic heritage and cultural resources; (C) engaging collaborative partners and stakeholders; (D) designing community outreach and participation strategies; (E) developing concept plans for trails, parks, historic resources, and natural areas; (F) developing sustainable tourism development frameworks for community planning; and (G) encouraging regional strategies for tourism development and promotion; and (3) assisting gateway communities in accessing additional Federal resources available to strengthen tourism assets and support economic development. (b) Obtaining financial and technical assistance The Secretary, in consultation with stakeholders of System units, shall establish a process through which States, units of local government, and Tribal governments may apply for designation as a gateway community to become eligible for financial and technical assistance made available under this section. (c) Metrics The Secretary, in consultation with gateway communities, shall develop metrics to measure the impact of the financial and technical assistance provided to gateway communities under this section. 309203. Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that— (1) describes the efforts of the Secretary to partner with gateway communities under this chapter; (2) analyzes the results of the financial and technical assistance using the metrics developed under section 309202(c); and (3) identifies— (A) the next steps that should be taken to improve partnerships with gateway communities; and (B) any actions that the Secretary will take to improve the partnerships. 309204. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this chapter. . (b) Conforming amendment The table of chapters for title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 3091 the following: 3902. Partnerships with gateway communities 30921 .

Summary: Explore America Act of 2021 This bill modifies and sets forth new provisions regarding the Preserve America Program and authorizes partnerships with gateway communities adjacent to units of the National Park System. The Department of the Interior shall offer to enter into partnerships with gateway communities, including Native American communities and National Heritage Areas, to leverage heritage tourism assets in order to strengthen the local economies and create jobs in those communities.