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 desig-
nating certain lands as the Los Caminos del Rio National 
Heritage Corridor, 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. LOS CAMINOS DEL RIO. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CORRIDOR.—The term ‘‘Corridor’’ means 
the Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Cor-
ridor. 
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(2) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map ti-
tled ‘‘Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Cor-
ridor’’ and dated April 2020. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(4) STUDY
AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 
means the study area described in subsection (b)(2). 
(b) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with State historic preservation officers, State 
historical societies, State tourism offices, State nat-
ural resource agencies, and other appropriate re-
gional and local organizations or agencies, shall con-
duct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility 
of designating the study area as the Los Caminos 
del Rio National Heritage Corridor. 
(2) STUDY AREA.—The study area includes— 
(A) the portion of the Rio Grande River 
and surrounding areas, as generally depicted on 
the map; and 
(B) any other areas in the State of Texas 
that— 
(i) have a shared heritage with the 
areas depicted on the map described in 
subparagraph (A); and 
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(ii) are adjacent to, or in the vicinity 
of, those areas. 
(3) REQUIREMENTS.—The study shall include 
analysis, documentation, and determinations on 
whether the study area— 
(A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, 
and cultural resources that— 
(i) represent distinctive aspects of the 
heritage of the United States; 
(ii) are worthy of recognition, con-
servation, interpretation, and continuing 
use by residents and visitors; and 
(iii) would be best managed— 
(I) through partnerships among 
public and private entities; and 
(II) by linking diverse and some-
times noncontiguous resources and ac-
tive communities that share a com-
mon heritage; 
(B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, 
and folklife that are a valuable part of the story 
of the United States; 
(C) provides— 
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(i) outstanding opportunities to con-
serve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic 
features; and 
(ii) outstanding recreational and edu-
cational and cultural tourism opportuni-
ties; 
(D) contains resources that— 
(i) are important to any identified 
themes of the study area; and 
(ii) retain a degree of integrity capa-
ble of supporting interpretation; 
(E) includes residents, business interests, 
nonprofit organizations, including museums and 
heritage organizations, and State and local gov-
ernments that— 
(i) are involved in the planning of the 
Corridor; 
(ii) have developed a conceptual finan-
cial plan that outlines the roles of all par-
ticipants in the Corridor, including the 
Federal Government; and 
(iii) have demonstrated support for 
the designation of the Corridor; 
(F) has a potential management entity to 
work in partnership with the individuals and 
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entities described in subparagraph (E) to de-
velop the Corridor while encouraging State and 
local economic activity; and 
(G) has a conceptual boundary map that is 
supported by the public. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than the end of the third fis-
cal year after the date on which funds are first made avail-
able for this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate a report that describes— 
(1) the findings of the study; and 
(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the 
Secretary. 
Æ 
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