(i) numerous residential and ceremo-
nial mound sites; and 
(ii) sites significant to the Quapaw, 
Tunica, Choctaw, and Chickasaw people 
and other Native Americans; 
(B) the clearing and settlement of 1 of the 
last wilderness frontiers in the 48 contiguous 
States; 
(C) the immigration of people of African, 
Asian, and European descent to the United 
States; 
(D) the labors and social activities of 
enslaved Africans who provided the bulk of the 
early labor force for the development of— 
(i) large-scale plantation agriculture 
based on cotton, which is 1 of the most im-
portant commodities ever produced in the 
United States; and 
(ii) the birth and subsequent perfec-
tion of the art form that is known as the 
‘‘Mississippi Delta Blues’’; 
(E) the role of the Mississippi River as— 
(i) the architect and sometimes un-
merciful tyrant of land; and 
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(ii) an important transportation ar-
tery throughout the history of the United 
States; 
(F) the story of the Great Flood of 1927, 
which was a defining event in the history of the 
United States; 
(G) the struggles and triumphs of the Civil 
Rights Movement; and 
(H) the emergence of many local leaders 
from the Civil Rights Movement; 
(3) the Mississippi Delta is the ancestral home 
of hundreds of thousands of people of the United 
States who— 
(A) migrated north, east, and west during 
the Great Migration seeking employment and 
freedom and populating the cities of the United 
States in the process; 
(B) struggled for equal rights and equal 
opportunities; and 
(C) carried their culture, including their 
family life, faith, food, lifestyle, and music to 
the rest of the United States, which trans-
formed the United States in the process; 
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(4) the scenic and natural beauty of the alluvial 
floodplain 
known 
as 
the 
‘‘Yazoo-Mississippi 
Delta’’— 
(A) is distinctive and integral to the herit-
age stories of the region; and 
(B) provides critical habitat for migrating 
birds passing through the Mississippi Flyway; 
(5) the agricultural heritage of the Delta, espe-
cially with regards to the cultivation of cotton, soy-
beans, rice, and catfish has contributed significantly 
to the story and economy of the United States; 
(6) many of the greatest leaders of the United 
States in literature, music, civil rights, politics, cul-
inary arts, poetry, society, and religion have come 
from the Mississippi Delta; 
(7) the small towns, inns, shops, restaurants, 
artist’s workshops, blues clubs, churches, landscape, 
and vernacular architecture make the Mississippi 
Delta unique; 
(8) the Mississippi Delta is known internation-
ally as the birthplace of the musical form known as 
the ‘‘Blues’’, which provided the basis for much of 
modern popular music; and 
(9) there is broad support from local govern-
ments and other interested individuals for the estab-
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lishment of the Mississippi Delta National Heritage 
Area to coordinate and assist in the preservation 
and interpretation of the resources of the region. 
SEC. 103. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the 
Board of Directors of the coordinating entity estab-
lished under this title. 
(2) HERITAGE
AREA.—The term ‘‘Heritage 
Area’’ means the Mississippi Delta National Herit-
age Area established by this title. 
(3) COORDINATING
ENTITY.—The term ‘‘co-
ordinating entity’’ means the coordinating entity for 
the Heritage Area designated by this title. 
(4) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage-
ment plan’’ means the management plan for the 
Heritage Area developed under this title. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(6) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Mississippi. 
SEC. 104. MISSISSIPPI DELTA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
State the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area. 
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(b) BOUNDARIES.—The Heritage Area shall include 
all counties in the State that contain land located in the 
alluvial floodplain of the Mississippi Delta, including Boli-
var, Carroll, Coahoma, Desoto, Holmes, Humphreys, 
Issaquena, Leflore, Panola, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, 
Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Warren, Washington, and 
Yazoo Counties in the State. 
(c) MAP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after 
the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary 
shall prepare a map of the Heritage Area. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—The map prepared under 
paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for pub-
lic inspection in the office of the Director of the Na-
tional Park Service. 
SEC. 105. DESIGNATION OF PARTNERSHIP AS COORDI-
NATING ENTITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Mississippi Delta National 
Heritage Area Partnership shall be the coordinating entity 
for the Heritage Area. 
(b) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.— 
(A) PARTNERSHIP.—The coordinating en-
tity shall be governed by a Board of Directors 
composed of 7 members, of whom— 
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(i) 1 member shall be appointed by 
Mississippi Valley State University; 
(ii) 1 member shall be appointed by 
Delta State University; 
(iii) 1 member shall be appointed by 
Alcorn State University; 
(iv) 1 member shall be appointed by 
the Delta Foundation; 
(v) 1 member shall be appointed by 
Delta Council; 
(vi) 1 member shall be appointed by 
the Mississippi Office of Tourism Develop-
ment; and 
(vii) 1 member shall be appointed by 
the Smith Robertson Museum. 
(B) RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS.—At least 
4 members of the Board shall reside in the 
Heritage Area. 
(2) OFFICERS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—At the initial meeting 
of the Board, the members of the Board shall 
appoint a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and 
Secretary/Treasurer. 
(B) DUTIES.— 
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(B) STAFF.—The Board shall have the au-
thority to employ any services and staff that 
are determined to be necessary by a majority 
vote of the Board. 
(4) BYLAWS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Board may amend 
or repeal the bylaws of the coordinating entity 
at any meeting of the Board by a majority vote 
of the Board. 
(B) NOTICE.—The Board shall provide no-
tice of any meeting of the Board at which an 
amendment to the bylaws is to be considered 
that includes the text or a summary of the pro-
posed amendment. 
(5) MINUTES.—Not later than 60 days after a 
meeting of the Board, the Board shall distribute the 
minutes of the meeting among all Board members 
and the county supervisors in each county within the 
Heritage Area. 
SEC. 106. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF COORDINATING 
ENTITY. 
(a) AUTHORITIES.—For purposes of developing and 
implementing the management plan and otherwise car-
rying out this title, the coordinating entity may make 
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grants and provide technical assistance to tribal and local 
governments and other public and private entities. 
(b) DUTIES.—In carrying out this title, the coordi-
nating entity shall— 
(1) implement the management plan; 
(2) assist local and tribal governments and non-
profit organizations in— 
(A) establishing and maintaining interpre-
tive exhibits in the Heritage Area; 
(B) developing recreational resources in 
the Heritage Area; 
(C) increasing public awareness of, and ap-
preciation for, the Heritage Area; 
(D) restoring historic structures that relate 
to the Heritage Area; and 
(E) carrying out any other activity that 
the coordinating entity determines to be appro-
priate to carry out this title, consistent with the 
management plan; 
(3) conduct public meetings at least annually 
regarding the implementation of the management 
plan; and 
(4) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds 
are made available for the Heritage Area— 
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(A) submit to the Secretary a report that 
describes, for the fiscal year, the actions of the 
coordinating entity in carrying out this title; 
(B) make available to the Secretary for 
audit all records relating to the expenditure of 
funds by any matching funds; and 
(C) require, for all agreements authorizing 
the expenditure of Federal funds by any entity, 
that the receiving entity make available to the 
Secretary for audit all records relating to the 
expenditure of the funds. 
(c) PROHIBITION OF ACQUISITION OF REAL PROP-
ERTY.—The coordinating entity shall not use any Federal 
funds made available under this title to acquire real prop-
erty or any interest in real property. 
SEC. 107. MANAGEMENT PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this title, the coordinating entity 
shall develop and submit to the Secretary a management 
plan for the Heritage Area. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The management plan shall— 
(1) provide recommendations for the conserva-
tion, funding, management, interpretation, and de-
velopment of the cultural, historical, archaeological, 
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natural, and recreational resources of the Heritage 
Area; 
(2) identify sources of funding for the Heritage 
Area; 
(3) include— 
(A) an inventory of the cultural, historical, 
archeological, natural, and recreational re-
sources of the Heritage Area; and 
(B) an analysis of ways in which Federal, 
State, tribal, and local programs may best be 
coordinated to promote the purposes of this 
title; 
(4) provide recommendations for educational 
and interpretive programs to inform the public about 
the resources of the Heritage Area; and 
(5) involve residents of affected communities 
and tribal and local governments. 
(c) FAILURE TO SUBMIT.—If a management plan is 
not submitted to the Secretary by the date specified in 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall not provide any addi-
tional funding under this title until a management plan 
for the Heritage Area is submitted to the Secretary. 
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SEC. 108. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF FEDERAL AGEN-
CIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—On the request of the coordi-
nating entity, the Secretary may provide technical and fi-
nancial assistance to the coordinating entity for use in the 
development and implementation of the management plan. 
(b) PROHIBITION
OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.— 
The Secretary may not, as a condition of the provision 
of technical or financial assistance under this section, re-
quire any recipient of the assistance to impose or modify 
any land use restriction or zoning ordinance. 
SEC. 109. EFFECT. 
Nothing in this title— 
(1) affects or authorizes the coordinating entity 
to interfere with— 
(A) the right of any person with respect to 
private property; or 
(B) any local zoning ordinance or land use 
plan; 
(2) restricts an Indian tribe from protecting 
cultural or religious sites on tribal land; 
(3) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes the author-
ity of any State, tribal, or local government to regu-
late any use of land under any other law (including 
regulations); 
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(4) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes the author-
ity of the State to manage fish and wildlife in the 
Heritage Area, including the regulation of fishing 
and hunting; 
(5) authorizes the coordinating entity to assume 
any authority to manage fish and wildlife in the 
Heritage Area; or 
(6) diminishes the trust responsibilities or gov-
ernment-to-government obligations of the United 
States of any federally recognized Indian tribe. 
TITLE II—MISSISSIPPI HILLS NA-
TIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT 
OF 2007 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Mississippi Hills Na-
tional Heritage Area Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 202. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the area in northern Mississippi, and lo-
cated in the southern foothills of the Appalachian 
range, has a unique identity that is shaped by— 
(A) a diverse geological and geographical 
environment, including substantial portions 
of— 
(i) the Red Clay Hills; 
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(v) L.Q.C. Lamar, a Senator, Sec-
retary of the Interior, and Associate Jus-
tice of the Supreme Court of the United 
States, who lived in Oxford; 
(vi) author Eudora Welty, who at-
tended the Mississippi University for 
Women in Columbus; and 
(vii) Confederate General Stephen D. 
Lee, who lived in Columbus; 
(3) the area includes spectacular natural, sce-
nic, and recreational resources, including— 
(A) the Strawberry Plains State Audubon 
Center; 
(B) the Wolf River; 
(C) the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway; 
(D) the Holly Springs National Forest; 
(E) the Tombigbee National Forest; 
(F) the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge; 
(G) the Tishomingo State Park; and 
(H) the Sardis, Enid, and Grenada Lakes; 
(4) there is broad support from local govern-
ments and other interested individuals for the estab-
lishment of the Mississippi Hills National Heritage 
Area to coordinate and assist in the preservation 
and interpretation of those resources; 
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(5) the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Concept 
Plan, coordinated by the Mississippi Hills Heritage 
Area Alliance is— 
(A) a collaborative effort between the Fed-
eral Government and State and local govern-
ments in the area; and 
(B) a natural foundation on which to es-
tablish the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area; and 
(6) the establishment of the Mississippi Hills 
Heritage Area would assist local communities and 
residents in preserving the unique cultural, histor-
ical, archaeological, natural, and recreational re-
sources of the area. 
SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ALLIANCE.—The term ‘‘Alliance’’ means 
the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance, a non- 
profit organization registered by the State, with the 
cooperation and support of the University of Mis-
sissippi. 
(2) HERITAGE
AREA.—The term ‘‘Heritage 
Area’’ means the Mississippi Hills National Heritage 
Area established by this title. 
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(3) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘manage-
ment plan’’ means the management plan for the 
Heritage Area developed under this title. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Mississippi. 
SEC. 204. MISSISSIPPI HILLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
State the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area. 
(b) BOUNDARIES.— 
(1) AFFECTED COUNTIES.—The Heritage Area 
shall consist of all, or portions of, as specified by the 
boundary description in paragraph (2), Alcorn, 
Attala, Benton, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Choc-
taw, Clay, DeSoto, Grenada, Holmes, Itawamba, La-
fayette, Lee, Lowndes, Marshall, Monroe, Mont-
gomery, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Panola, Pontotoc, 
Prentiss, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Web-
ster, Winston, and Yalobusha Counties in the State. 
(2) BOUNDARY
DESCRIPTION.—The Heritage 
Area shall have the following boundary description: 
(A) traveling counterclockwise, the Herit-
age Area shall be bounded to the west by U.S. 
Highway 51 from the Tennessee State line until 
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it intersects Interstate 55 (at Geeslin Corner 
approximately 0.5 miles due north of Highway 
Interchange 208); 
(B) from this point, Interstate 55 shall be 
the western boundary until it intersects with 
Mississippi Highway 12 at Highway Inter-
change 156, the intersection of which shall be 
the southwest terminus of the Heritage Area; 
(C) from the southwest terminus, the 
boundary shall— 
(i) extend east along Mississippi 
Highway 12 until it intersects U.S. High-
way 51; 
(ii) follow Highway 51 south until it 
is intersected again by Highway 12; 
(iii) extend along Highway 12 into 
downtown Kosciusko where it intersects 
Mississippi Highway 35; 
(iv) follow Highway 35 south until it 
is intersected by Mississippi Highway 14; 
and 
(v) extend along Highway 14 until it 
reaches the Alabama State line, the inter-
section of which shall be the southeast ter-
minus of the Heritage Area; 
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(D) from the southeast terminus, the 
boundary of the Heritage Area shall follow the 
Mississippi-Alabama State line until it reaches 
the Mississippi-Tennessee State line, the inter-
section of which shall be the northeast terminus 
of the Heritage Area; and 
(E) the boundary shall extend due west 
until it reaches U.S. Highway 51, the intersec-
tion of which shall be the northwest terminus of 
the Heritage Area. 
SEC. 205. DESIGNATION OF ALLIANCE AS MANAGEMENT 
ENTITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Alliance shall be the coordi-
nating entity for the Heritage Area. 
(b) FEDERAL FUNDING.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION TO RECEIVE FUNDS.—The 
Alliance may receive amounts made available to 
carry out this title. 
(2) DISQUALIFICATION.—If a management plan 
is not submitted to the Secretary as required under 
this title within the time period specified, the Alli-
ance may not receive Federal funding under this 
title until a management plan is submitted to the 
Secretary. 
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(c) USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS.—The Alliance may, 
for the purposes of developing and implementing the man-
agement plan, use Federal funds made available under 
this title— 
(1) to make grants and loans to the State, po-
litical subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organiza-
tions, and other persons; 
(2) to enter into cooperative agreements with, 
or provide technical assistance to, the State, political 
subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, 
and other organizations; 
(3) to hire and compensate staff; 
(4) to obtain funds from any source, under any 
program or law, requiring the recipient of funds to 
make a contribution in order to receive the funds; 
and 
(5) to contract for goods and services. 
(d) PROHIBITION OF ACQUISITION OF REAL PROP-
ERTY.—The Alliance may not use Federal funds received 
under this title to acquire real property or any interest 
in real property. 
SEC. 206. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF ALLIANCE. 
(a) AUTHORITIES.—To develop and implement the 
management plan and otherwise carry out this title, the 
Alliance may make grants to and provide technical assist-
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