Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Act

Bill: 108-hr-1798
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Nancy L. [R-CT-5]
Introduced: 2003-04-11 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Arts, Culture, Religion
Auditing
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commemorations
Commerce
Congress
Connecticut
Cultural property
Department of the Interior
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Exhibitions
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grants-in-aid
Historic sites
History
Land use
Landowners
Landscape protection
Law
Massachusetts
Nature conservation
Outdoor recreation
Planning
Public meetings
Public-private partnerships
Regional economic development
Right of property
Signs and signboards
Social life and customs
Sports and Recreation
Sunset legislation
Water Resources Development
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Designates the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, Inc., as the Areas' management entity, which shall: (1) submit to the Secretary of the Interior for approval a management plan which includes policies, strategies, and recommendations for conservation, funding, management, development, and interpretation of the Area; and (2) assist local governments, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing the plan. Prohibits the entity from using Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to the Area and enter into cooperative agreements with the management entity to develop and implement the plan.
action_date: 2003-11-17
text: 
Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
 
Designates the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, Inc., as the Area's management entity (the entity), which shall: (1) submit to the Secretary of the Interior for approval a management plan which includes policies, strategies, and recommendations for conservation, funding, management, development, and interpretation of the Area; and (2) assist local governments, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing the plan. Allows the entity, for purposes of preparing and implementing the plan for the Area, to make grants and enter into cooperative agreements to provide technical assistance to Connecticut and Massachusetts and other specified entities. 
Prohibits the management entity from using Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property, but may use any other source of funding, including other Federal funding, intended for the acquisition of real property. 
Requires the management entity to submit the management plan within three years after funds are made available for this Act. Bars the entity, if the plan is not submitted to the Secretary by such deadline, from qualifying for Federal funding under this Act until it is submitted. 
Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to the Area and enter into cooperative agreements with the management entity and other public or private entities to develop and implement the plan. 
Prohibits the preservation, conservation, or promotion of any privately owned property by the plan until the owner of that private property has been notified in writing and has given written consent to the management entity. Provides for any owner of private property included within the Area's boundary to have their property immediately removed from the boundary by submitting a written request to the entity. 
Authorizes appropriations. Limits: (1) the amount of funding for any fiscal year; (2) the total amount that may be appropriated for the Area under this Act; and (3) Federal matching funds provided under this Act to 50 percent of the total cost of any assistance or grant provided or authorized under this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 215.
action_date: 2003-11-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-365.
action_date: 2003-11-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-365.
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-10-21
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-10-21
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-04-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
action_date: 2003-04-23
text: Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Introduced in House