I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3553
To establish the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 20, 2003
Mr. LAHOOD (for himself, Mr. HASTERT, Mr. RUSH, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, 
Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. HYDE, Mr. DAVIS of 
Illinois, Mr. CRANE, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. KIRK, Mr. WELLER, Mr. 
COSTELLO, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. 
EVANS, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. ISSA, Mr. UPTON, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. WAX-
MAN, and Ms. SLAUGHTER) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, 
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as ‘‘Abraham Lincoln National 
Heritage Area Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following:
and for management of the Heritage Area as appro-
priate for such designation. 
(7) As our Nation enters the 21st Century, 
there is a compelling need to educate and cultivate 
among our citizens, particularly youth, an under-
standing appreciation for, and a renewed commit-
ment to integrity, courage, self-initiative, and prin-
cipled leadership in public and private life. 
(8) Few individuals in our Nation’s history have 
as broadly exemplified such qualities as Abraham 
Lincoln, and few have so profoundly influenced 
United States history and the Character of our Na-
tion as has our 16th president. 
(9) The story and example of Lincoln’s life—his 
inspiring rise from humble origins to the highest of-
fice in the land, and his decisive leadership through 
the most harrowing and dangerous time in our Na-
tion’s history, continues to bring hope and inspira-
tion to millions in our country and around the world. 
(10) The great issues of Lincoln’s time, na-
tional unity, equality and race relations, the capacity 
for democratic government and ideals to address 
these and related issues, continue to this day to de-
fine the challenges facing our Nation. The ideals 
Lincoln espoused and the sentiments he expressed in
keeping our Nation together are as relevant today as 
they were in his troubled time. 
(11) Illinois is known throughout the world as 
the land of Abraham Lincoln. Unquestionably, the 
physical, social, and cultural landscape of Illinois 
helped mold Lincoln’s character. ‘‘Here I have lived 
a quarter of a century, and have passed from a 
young to an old man,’’ Lincoln remarked on leaving. 
‘‘To this place and the kindness of these people I 
owe everything’’. 
(12) Lincoln, in turn, left his own traces across 
the Illinois landscape. They remain today in the 
form 
of 
stories, 
folklore, 
artifacts, 
buildings, 
streetscapes, and landscapes. Though scattered geo-
graphically and in varying states of development and 
interpretation, together they bring an immediacy 
and tangible quality to the powerful Lincoln legacy. 
Individually and collectively, they constitute an im-
portant national cultural and historic resource. 
(13) In particular the stories and cultural re-
sources of the region’s Lincoln legacy—
(A) reflect the values and attitudes, the ob-
stacles and ingenuity, the failures and accom-
plishments, the human frailties and strength of 
character of the men and women who made up
the diverse people of Lincoln’s generation of 
Americans, including upland Southerners and 
Northeastern 
Yankees, 
Anglo-settlers 
and 
American Indians, ‘‘free’’ blacks, abolitionists, 
and their critics; 
(B) reflect the material culture and rel-
ative levels of technical sophistication in the 
United States in Lincoln’s time; 
(C) recreate the physical environment, re-
vealing its impact on agriculture, transpor-
tation, trade, business, and social and cultural 
patterns in urban and rural settings; and 
(D) interpret the effect of the era’s demo-
cratic ethos on the development of our Nation’s 
legal and political institutions and distinctive 
political culture. 
(14) Three previous studies—‘‘Abraham Lin-
coln Research and Interpretive Center Suitability/
Feasibility Study’’ by the National Park Service 
(1991), ‘‘Looking for Lincoln Illinois Heritage Tour-
ism Project’’ commissioned by the State of Illinois 
Department of Commerce and Community Affairs in 
cooperation with the Illinois Historic Preservation 
Agency (1998), and the ‘‘Feasibility Study for the 
Proposed Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area’’
revised in 2003, help document a sufficient assem-
blage of nationally distinctive historical resources to 
demonstrate the feasibility and need to establish the 
Heritage Area. 
(15) The National Park Service operates and 
maintains the Lincoln Home National Historic Site 
in Springfield, Illinois, and is responsible for advo-
cating the protection and interpretation of the Na-
tion’s cultural and historic resources and encour-
aging the development of interpretive context for 
these resources through appropriate planning and 
preservation. 
(16) The Heritage Area can strengthen, com-
plement, and support the Lincoln Home National 
Historic Site through the interpretation and con-
servation of the associated living landscapes outside 
of the boundaries of this historic site. 
(17) There is a Federal interest in supporting 
the development of a regional framework and con-
text to partner with and assist the National Park 
Service, the State of Illinois, local organizations and 
governments, and private citizens to conserve, pro-
tect, and bring recognition to the resources of the 
Heritage Area for the educational and recreational 
benefit of this and future generations.
(18) Communities throughout this region know 
the value of their Lincoln legacy, but need to expand 
upon an existing cooperative framework and tech-
nical assistance to achieve important goals by work-
ing together. 
(19) The State of Illinois, Department of Com-
merce and Economic Opportunity, and Bureau of 
Tourism officially designated ‘‘Looking for Lincoln’’ 
as a State Heritage Tourism Area and has identified 
the story of Lincoln as a key destination driver for 
the State. 
(20) Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, 
the management entity for the Heritage Area, is a 
non-profit corporation created for the purposes of 
preserving, interpreting, developing, promoting, and 
making available to the public the story and re-
sources related to the story of Abraham Lincoln’s 
adult life in Illinois and contributions to society and 
would be an appropriate entity to oversee the devel-
opment of the Heritage Area. 
(21) Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition 
has completed a business plan that—
(A) describes in detail the role, operation, 
financing, and functions of Looking For Lin-
coln Heritage Coalition, as the management en-
tity; and 
(B) provides adequate assurances that 
Looking For Lincoln Heritage Coalition is like-
ly to have the financial resources necessary to 
implement the management plan for the Herit-
age Area, including resources to meet matching 
requirement for grants. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 
apply: 
(1) MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—The term ‘‘man-
agement entity’’ means, Looking for Lincoln Herit-
age Coalition, an entity recognized by the Secretary, 
in consultation with the chief executive officer of the 
State of Illinois, that agrees to perform the duties 
of a local coordinating entity under this Act. 
(2) HERITAGE
AREA.—The term ‘‘Heritage 
Area’’ means the Abraham Lincoln National Herit-
age Area established by section 4. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(4) UNIT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.—The term 
‘‘unit of local government’’ means the government of
a State, a political subdivision of a State, or an In-
dian tribe. 
SEC. 4. ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
State of Illinois the ‘‘Abraham Lincoln National Heritage 
Area’’. 
(b) BOUNDARIES.—The Heritage Area shall include 
the following: 
(1) A core area located in Central Illinois, con-
sisting of Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Cham-
paign, Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Dewitt, 
Douglas, Edgar, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, 
Henderson, Jersey, Knox, LaSalle, Logan, McLean, 
McDonough, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Mason, 
Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, 
Piatt, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, 
Tazwell, Vermillion, Warren and Woodford Counties. 
(2) 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 Memo-
rial. 
(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.
(3) Sites, buildings, and districts within the 
core area recommended in the management plan. 
(c) MAP.—A map of the Heritage Area shall be in-
cluded in the management plan. The map shall be on file 
in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, 
Department of the Interior. 
(d) MANAGEMENT ENTITY.—The management entity 
for the Heritage Area shall be Looking for Lincoln Herit-
age Coalition. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORITIES, DUTIES, AND PROHIBITIONS OF THE 
MANAGEMENT ENTITY. 
(a) AUTHORITIES.—The management entity may, for 
purposes of preparing and implementing the management 
plan, use funds made available under this Act to—
(1) prepare a management plan for the Herit-
age Area, which shall be complete not later than 3 
years after funds are first made available for this 
Act; 
(2) prepare reports, studies, interpretive exhib-
its and programs, historic preservation projects, and 
other activities recommended in the management 
plan for the Heritage Area; 
(3) pay for operational expenses of the manage-
ment entity incurred within the first 10 fiscal years
beginning after the date of the enactment of this 
Act; 
(4) make grants or loans to the State of Illinois 
and its political subdivisions, nonprofit organiza-
tions, and other persons; 
(5) enter into cooperative agreements with the 
State of Illinois, its political subdivisions, nonprofit 
organizations, and other organizations; 
(6) hire and compensate staff; 
(7) obtain money from any source under any 
program or law requiring the recipient of such 
money to make a contribution in order to receive 
such money; and 
(8) contract for goods and services. 
(b) DUTIES.—In addition to developing the manage-
ment plan, the management entity shall—
(1) give priority to the implementation of ac-
tions, goals, and strategies set forth in the manage-
ment plan, including assisting units of government 
and other persons in—
(A) carrying out the programs that recog-
nize 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 interpre-
tive 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 ap-
preciation for the cultural, historical, and nat-
ural resources of the Heritage Area; 
(F) restoring historic buildings that are 
both—
(i) located in the Heritage Area; and 
(ii) related to the themes of the Herit-
age Area; and 
(G) installing throughout the Heritage 
Area clear, consistent, and appropriate signs 
identifying public access points and sites of in-
terest; 
(2) prepare and implement the management 
plan while considering the interests of diverse units 
of government, businesses, private property owners, 
and nonprofit groups within the Heritage Area;
(3) conduct public meetings at least quarterly 
regarding the development and implementation of 
the management plan; and 
(4) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds 
are received under this Act—
(A) submit to the Secretary a report that 
describes, for that fiscal year—
(i) the accomplishments of the man-
agement entity; 
(ii) the expenses and income of the 
management entity; and 
(iii) each entity to which a grant was 
made; 
(B) make available for audit by Congress, 
the Secretary, and appropriate units of govern-
ment, all records pertaining to the expenditure 
of the funds and any matching funds; and 
(C) require, for all agreements authorizing 
expenditure of Federal funds by any entity, 
that the receiving entity make available for 
audit all records pertaining to the expenditure 
of the funds. 
(c) PROHIBITION OF ACQUISITION OF REAL PROP-
ERTY.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The management entity 
shall not use Federal funds received under this Act 
to acquire real property or any interest in real prop-
erty. 
(2) OTHER SOURCES.—Nothing in this Act pre-
cludes the management entity from using Federal 
funds from other sources for authorized purposes in-
cluding acquisition of real property or any interest 
in real property. 
SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—In preparing the management 
plan, the management entity shall perform the following 
duties: 
(1) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Prepare and submit 
to the Secretary a management plan reviewed by 
participating units of government within the bound-
aries of the Heritage Area. 
(2) COLLABORATION.—Collaborate with and 
consider the interests of diverse units of government, 
businesses, tourism officials, private property own-
ers, and nonprofit groups within the the Heritage 
Area in developing and implementing the manage-
ment plan. 
(3) PUBLIC
INVOLVEMENT.—Ensure regular 
public involvement, including public meetings at
least annually, regarding the implementation of the 
management plan for the Heritage Area. 
(4) RECORDS FOR AUDITS.—Make available to 
the Secretary for audit, for any year in which Fed-
eral funds have been received under this Act, all 
records pertaining to the expenditure of such funds 
and any matching funds, and require, for all agree-
ments authorizing expenditure of Federal funds by 
other organizations, that the receiving organizations 
make available to the Secretary for audit all records 
pertaining to the expenditure of such funds. 
(b) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The management plan for 
the Heritage Area shall—
(1) present a comprehensive program for the 
conservation, interpretation, funding, management, 
and development of the Heritage Area and of the 
historical, cultural, and natural resources and the 
recreational and educational opportunities of the 
Heritage Area, in a manner consistent with the ex-
isting local, State, and Federal land use laws and 
compatible economic viability of the Heritage Area; 
(2) be prepared and implemented in a manner 
that involves residents, public agencies, and private 
organizations working in the Heritage Area;
(3) specify and coordinate, as of the date of the 
management plan, existing and potential sources of 
technical and financial assistance under this and 
other Federal laws to protect, manage, and develop 
the Heritage Area; and 
(4) include—
(A) actions to be undertaken by units of 
government and private organizations to pro-
tect, conserve, and interpret the resources of 
the Heritage Area; 
(B) an inventory of the resources con-
tained in the Heritage Area, including a list of 
any property in the Heritage Area that is re-
lated to the themes of the Heritage Area and 
that is found to merit preservation, restoration, 
management, development, or maintenance be-
cause of its natural, cultural, historical, or rec-
reational significance; 
(C) policies for resource management with 
appropriate land and water management tech-
niques, including the development of intergov-
ernmental cooperative agreements, private sec-
tor agreements, or any combination thereof, to 
protect the historical, cultural, recreational, and 
natural resources of the Heritage Area in a
manner consistent with supporting appropriate 
and compatible economic viability; 
(D) a program for implementation of the 
management plan by the designated manage-
ment entity, in cooperation with its partners 
and units of government; 
(E) evidence that relevant State, county, 
and local plans applicable to the Heritage Area 
have been taken into consideration; 
(F) an analysis of ways in which local, 
State, and Federal programs may best be co-
ordinated to promote the purposes of this Act; 
and 
(G) a business plan that—
(i) describes in detail the role, oper-
ation, financing, and functions of the local 
coordinating entity and of each activity in-
cluded in the recommendations contained 
in the management plan; and 
(ii) provides, to the satisfaction of the 
Secretary, adequate assurances that the 
management entity is likely to have the fi-
nancial resources necessary to implement 
the management plan, including resources
to meet matching requirement for grants 
awarded under this Act. 
(c) PUBLIC NOTICE.—The management entity shall 
place a notice of each of its public meetings in a newspaper 
of general circulation in the Heritage Area and shall make 
the minutes of the meeting available to the public. 
(d) DISQUALIFICATION FROM FUNDING.—If a pro-
posed management plan is not submitted to the Secretary 
within 3 years the funds are first made available for this 
Act, the management entity shall be ineligible to receive 
additional funding under this Act until the date on which 
the Secretary receives the proposed management plan. 
(e) APPROVAL AND DISAPPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT 
PLAN.—The Secretary , in consultation with the Governor 
of the State of Illinois or his appointed agency representa-
tive, shall approve or disapprove the proposed manage-
ment plan submitted under this Act not later than 90 days 
after receiving the proposed management plan. 
(f) ACTION FOLLOWING DISAPPROVAL.—If the Sec-
retary disapproves a proposed management plan, the Sec-
retary shall advise the management entity, in writing, of 
the reasons for the disapproval and make recommenda-
tions for revisions to the proposed management plan. The 
Secretary shall approve or disapprove a revised proposed
management plan not later than 90 days after it is sub-
mitted. 
(g) APPROVAL
OF AMENDMENTS.—The Secretary 
shall review and approve or disapprove substantial amend-
ments to the management plan. 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. 7. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; OTHER 
FEDERAL AGENCIES. 
(a) TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—On the request of the man-
agement entity, the Secretary may provide technical 
and financial assistance for the development and im-
plementation of the management plan. 
(2) PRIORITY FOR ASSISTANCE.—In providing 
assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
give priority to actions that assist in—
(A) conserving the significant cultural, his-
toric, and natural resources of the Heritage 
Area; and 
(B) providing educational, interpretive, and 
recreational opportunities consistent with the 
purposes of the Heritage Area.
(3) SPENDING FOR NON-FEDERAL PROPERTY.—
The management entity may expend Federal funds 
made available under this Act on non-federally 
owned property that is—
(A) identified in the management plan; or 
(B) listed or eligible for listing on the Na-
tional Register of Historic Places. 
(4) OTHER ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may 
enter into cooperative agreements with public and 
private organizations to carry out this subsection. 
(b) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Any Federal enti-
ty conducting or supporting an activity that directly af-
fects the Heritage Area shall—
(1) consider the potential effect of the activity 
on the purposes of the Heritage Area and the man-
agement plan; 
(2) consult with the management entity regard-
ing the activity; and 
(3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct 
or support the activity to avoid adverse effects on 
the Heritage Area. 
(c) OTHER ASSISTANCE NOT AFFECTED.—This Act 
does not affect the authority of any Federal official to pro-
vide technical or financial assistance under any other law.
(d) NOTIFICATION
OF OTHER FEDERAL ACTIVI-
TIES.—The head of each Federal agency shall provide to 
the Secretary and the management entity for the Heritage 
Area, to the extent practicable, advance notice of all activi-
ties which may have an impact on the Heritage Area. 
SEC. 8. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act shall be con-
strued to—
(1) require any private property owner to allow 
public access (including Federal, State, or local gov-
ernment access) to such private property; or 
(2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or 
local law with regard to public access to or use of 
private property. 
(b) LIABILITY.—Designation of the Heritage Area 
shall not be considered to create any liability, or to have 
any effect on any liability under any other law, of any pri-
vate property owner with respect to any persons injured 
on such private property. 
(c) RECOGNITION OF AUTHORITY TO CONTROL LAND 
USE.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify 
any authority of Federal, State, or local governments to 
regulate land use. 
(d) PARTICIPATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS 
IN HERITAGE AREA.—Nothing in this Act shall be con-
strued to require the owner of any private property located 
within the boundaries of the Heritage Area to participate 
in or be associated with the Heritage Area. 
(e) LAND USE REGULATION.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The management entity 
shall provide assistance and encouragement to State 
and local governments, private organizations, and 
persons to protect and promote the resources and 
values of the Heritage Area. 
(2) EFFECT.—Nothing in this Act shall grant 
any power of zoning or land use to the management 
entity. 
(f) PRIVATE PROPERTY.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The management entity 
shall be an advocate for land management practices 
consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area. 
(2) EFFECT.—Nothing in this Act—
(A) abridges the rights of any person with 
regard to private property; 
(B) affects the authority of the State or 
local government regarding private property; or 
(C) imposes any additional burden on any 
property owner.
SEC. 9. SAVINGS PROVISIONS. 
(a) RULES, REGULATIONS, STANDARDS, AND PER-
MIT PROCESSES.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
to impose any environmental, occupational, safety, or 
other rule, regulation, standard, or permit process in the 
National Heritage Area that is different from those that 
would be applicable if the national heritage area had not 
been established. 
(b) WATER AND WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this 
Act shall be construed to authorize or imply the reserva-
tion or appropriation of water or water rights. 
(c) NO DIMINISHMENT
OF STATE AUTHORITY.—
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish the au-
thority of the State containing the National Heritage Area 
to manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation of 
fishing and hunting within the national heritage area. 
(d) EXISTING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS.—Noth-
ing in this Act shall affect any national heritage area so 
designated before the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this Act $10,000,000, of which not 
more than $1,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for 
any fiscal year.
(b) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.—The Federal 
share of the total cost of any activity assisted under this 
Act shall be not more than 50 percent. 
SEC. 11. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY. 
The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance 
under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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