I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 186 
To amend title 54, United States Code, to authorize the provision of technical 
assistance under the Preserve America Program and to direct the Sec-
retary of the Interior to enter into partnerships with communities adja-
cent to units of the National Park System to leverage local cultural 
heritage tourism assets. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 4, 2021 
Mr. YOUNG (for himself and Mr. CASE) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
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 ad-
jacent to units of the National Park System to leverage 
local cultural heritage tourism assets. 
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 ‘‘Explore America Act 
of 2021’’. 
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SEC. 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 Na-
tional Heritage Areas) to leverage local cultural and 
historic heritage tourism assets. 
SEC. 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’’ after ‘‘Council’’; 
and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) ADVISORY ROLE OF SECRETARY OF COM-
MERCE.—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.— 
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‘‘(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 pro-
gram shall, in lieu of the grants, provide technical 
assistance to the eligible entities described in sub-
section (a) for projects that meet the eligibility re-
quirements 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 De-
partment 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 assist-
ance provided by— 
‘‘(A) the Director, with respect to— 
‘‘(i) best practices in visitor services; 
‘‘(ii) the conduct of research, inven-
tories, and surveys; 
‘‘(iii) the documentation of historic re-
sources; and 
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‘‘(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 re-
spect to economic development and job creation 
resources.’’. 
(b) PROGRAM METRICS.—Chapter 3111 of title 54, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 311105 as section 
311106; and 
(2) by inserting after section 311104 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 311105. Reports 
‘‘(a) METRICS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of the Explore America Act of 2021, 
the Secretary, in consultation with the Council and the 
Secretary of Commerce, shall develop specific metrics to 
measure the effectiveness of the program, including— 
‘‘(1) the economic impact of the program on 
local communities (including Native American com-
munities and National Heritage Areas); and 
‘‘(2) the effect of the program on efforts to pre-
serve heritage resources. 
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‘‘(b) GRANTEE REPORT.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date on which a grantee receives a grant or tech-
nical assistance under this chapter, the grantee shall sub-
mit 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 sub-
section (a), assesses— 
‘‘(A) the accomplishments of the project; 
and 
‘‘(B) the impact of the project on the com-
munity in which the project was carried out. 
‘‘(c) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Secretary shall submit 
an annual report to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress that includes data provided by grantees to dem-
onstrate the economic impact of the program.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 3111 of title 54, United States Code, 
is amended by striking the item relating to section 311105 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘311105. Reports. 
‘‘311106. Authorization of appropriations.’’. 
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SEC. 4. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PARTNERSHIPS WITH 
GATEWAY COMMUNITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subdivision 1 of division B of sub-
title III of title 54, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 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
COM-
MITTEE.—The term ‘appropriate congressional com-
mittee’ means— 
‘‘(A) 
the 
Committee 
on 
Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate; 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources of the Senate; 
‘‘(C) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate; 
‘‘(D) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives; 
‘‘(E) the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives; and 
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‘‘(F) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(2) GATEWAY COMMUNITY.—The term ‘gate-
way community’ means a community adjacent to a 
unit of the System, including a Native American 
community or a National Heritage Area. 
‘‘(3) HERITAGE TOURISM.—The term ‘heritage 
tourism’ has the meaning given the term in section 
311101. 
‘‘§ 309202. Partnerships with gateway communities 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, to the ex-
tent practicable, offer to enter into partnerships with gate-
way 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, in-
cluding 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 tour-
ism development and visitor management, such as— 
‘‘(A) inventorying tourism resources in the 
gateway community; 
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‘‘(B) identifying historic heritage and cul-
tural 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 devel-
opment 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 AS-
SISTANCE.—The Secretary, in consultation with stake-
holders of System units, shall establish a process through 
which States, units of local government, and Tribal gov-
ernments may apply for designation as a gateway commu-
nity to become eligible for financial and technical assist-
ance made available under this section. 
‘‘(c) METRICS.—The Secretary, in consultation with 
gateway communities, shall develop metrics to measure 
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the impact of the financial and technical assistance pro-
vided 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 chap-
ter; 
‘‘(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 commu-
nities; 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 chap-
ters for title 54, United States Code, is amended by insert-
ing after the item relating to chapter 3091 the following: 
‘‘3902. Partnerships with gateway communities .........................
30921’’. 
Æ 
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