National Heritage Area Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-1049
Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alabama
Alaska
Colorado
Congressional oversight
Connecticut
Dams and canals
Florida
Georgia
Government studies and investigations
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Military history
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York State
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Property rights
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

National Heritage Area Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes a National Heritage Areas System to recognize certain areas of the United States that tell nationally significant stories and to conserve, enhance, and interpret the areas' natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources that illustrate significant aspects of U.S. heritage. Through such system, the Department of the Interior may provide technical and financial assistance to local coordinating entities to support the establishment, development, and continuity of such areas. 
 
The system shall be comprised of
 
 
such areas designated by Congress under this bill; 
 
such areas designated after enactment of this bill, unless the law designating the area exempts it from inclusion in the system;
 
49 specified areas; and 
 
any other national heritage areas designated before this bill's enactment. 

 
National heritage areas shall not be considered to be units of the National Park System.
 
Interior shall (1) undertake studies as directed by Congress to assess the feasibility of designating proposed national heritage areas; (2) approve or disapprove the management plan prepared by the local coordinating entity for an area; and (3) evaluate the accomplishments of an area every 10 years after its designation and submit a recommendation on whether federal funding for such area should be continued, reduced, or eliminated.

action_date: 2020-11-19
text: 

National Heritage Area Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes a National Heritage Areas System to recognize certain areas of the United States that tell nationally significant stories and to conserve, enhance, and interpret the areas' natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources that illustrate significant aspects of U.S. heritage, and authorizes appropriations through FY2034 for each National Heritage Area. Through such system, the Department of the Interior may provide technical and financial assistance to local coordinating entities to support the establishment, development, and continuity of such areas.
 
The local coordinating entity of a National Heritage Area, not later than three years after the area is included in the National Heritage Area System, shall submit to Interior a management plan for approval.
 
Interior, not later than one year before the authorization for federal funding expires for a National Heritage Area, shall (1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of that area, and (2) submit a report detailing the evaluation to specified congressional committees. Based upon the evaluation, Interior shall prepare a report with recommendations for the National Park Service's continued role, if any, with respect to the area.
 
Interior may carry out or certify a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating a specific geographic area as a National Heritage Area to be included in the National Heritage Area System.
 
The bill (1) spells out the duties and authorities of the local coordinating entities, and (2) sets forth cost-sharing requirements.

action_date: 2020-12-03
text: 

National Heritage Area Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes a National Heritage Areas System to recognize certain areas of the United States that tell nationally significant stories and to conserve, enhance, and interpret the areas' natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources that illustrate significant aspects of U.S. heritage, and authorizes appropriations through FY2034 for each National Heritage Area. Through such system, the Department of the Interior may provide technical and financial assistance to local coordinating entities to support the establishment, development, and continuity of such areas.
 
The bill extends the authority for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission and the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission through FY2034.
 
The local coordinating entity of a National Heritage Area, not later than three years after the area is included in the National Heritage Area System, shall submit to Interior a management plan for approval.
 
Interior, not later than one year before the authorization for federal funding expires for a National Heritage Area, shall (1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of that area, and (2) submit a report detailing the evaluation to specified congressional committees. Based upon the evaluation, Interior shall prepare a report with recommendations for the National Park Service's continued role, if any, with respect to the area.
 
Interior may carry out or certify a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating a specific geographic area as a National Heritage Area to be included in the National Heritage Area System.
 
The bill sets forth cost-sharing requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-07
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2020-12-03
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2020-12-03
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6092-6094)
action_date: 2020-12-03
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6092-6094)
action_date: 2020-12-03
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1049.
action_date: 2020-12-03
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6092-6096)
action_date: 2020-12-03
text: Mr. Case moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2020-11-19
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 494.
action_date: 2020-11-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-601.
action_date: 2020-11-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-601.
action_date: 2020-01-29
text: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Discharged.
action_date: 2020-01-29
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2020-01-29
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-02-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in House