IB
Union Calendar No. 316
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3707
[Report No. 103–570]
To establish an American Heritage Areas Partnership Program in the
Department of the Interior.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 22, 1993
Mr. VENTO (for himself, Mr. HINCHEY, and Mr. BOUCHER) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
JUNE 30, 1994
Additional sponsor: Mr. GORDON
JUNE 30, 1994
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on November 22, 1993]
A BILL
To establish an American Heritage Areas Partnership
Program in the Department of the Interior.
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 the ‘‘American Heritage
Areas Partnership Program Act of 1994’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) certain areas of the United States represent
the diversity of the national character through the
interaction of natural processes, distinctive land-
scapes, cultural traditions, and economic and social
forces that have combined to create a particular pat-
tern of human settlement and activity;
(2) despite existing efforts by States and local-
ities and existing Federal programs, the natural, his-
toric, and cultural resources and recreational oppor-
tunities in these areas are often at risk; and
(3) their complexity and character distinguish
them and call for a distinctive system of recognition,
protection, and partnership management.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of the American Heritage Areas Partner-
ship Program Act are—
(1) to recognize that the natural, historic, and
cultural resources and recreational opportunities of
the United States represent the great and diverse
character of the Nation and are important thereto,
and that these resources and opportunities must be
guarded, preserved, and wisely managed so they may
be passed on to future generations;
(2) to recognize that combinations of such re-
sources and opportunities as they are geographically
assembled and thematically related form heritage
areas which provide unique frameworks for under-
standing the historical, cultural and natural develop-
ment of the community and its surroundings;
(3) to preserve such assemblages which are wor-
thy of national recognition, designation and assist-
ance, and to encourage linking such resources within
such areas through greenways, corridors, and trails;
(4) 
to 
encourage 
appropriate 
partnerships
among Federal agencies, State and local governments,
nonprofit organizations, the private sector, or com-
binations thereof to preserve, conserve and manage
those resources and opportunities, accommodate eco-
nomic viability and enhance the quality of life for our
Nation’s present and future generations;
(5) to authorize Federal financial and technical
assistance to State and local governments, private
nonprofit organizations, or combinations thereof, to
study and promote the potential for conserving and
interpreting heritage areas; and
(6) to prescribe the process by which, and the
standards according to which, prospective American
Heritage Areas may be assessed for eligibility and in-
cluded in an American Heritage Areas Partnership
Program.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act—
(1) AMERICAN
HERITAGE
AREA.—The term
‘‘American Heritage Area’’ means a place where nat-
ural, historic, or cultural resources, or some combina-
tion thereof, combine to form a cohesive, nationally
distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human
activity shaped by geography. These patterns make
American Heritage Areas representative of the na-
tional experience through the physical features that
remain and the traditions that have evolved in them.
Continued use of and adaptive reuses of the natural
and cultural fabric within American Heritage Areas
by people whose traditions helped to shape the land-
scapes enhances their significance.
(2) INDIAN
TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’
means any Indian tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or
other organized group or community, including any
Alaska Native village or regional corporation as de-
fined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act, which is recognized as eligible
for the special programs and services provided by the
United States to Indians because of their status as
Indians.
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior.
(4) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—The term ‘‘tech-
nical assistance’’ means any guidance, advice, help,
or aid, exclusive of financial aid.
(5) UNIT OF GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘‘unit of
government’’ means the government of a State, a po-
litical subdivision thereof, or Indian tribe.
SEC. 5. AMERICAN HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—In order to preserve nationally
distinctive natural, historic, and cultural resources, and to
provide opportunities for conservation, education, and
recreation through recognition of and assistance to such
areas, there is hereby established an American Heritage
Areas Partnership Program within the Department of the
Interior, which shall consist of American Heritage Areas
designated pursuant to subsection (d).
(b) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—In accordance with the
purposes of this Act, the Secretary is authorized to—