Bills Introduced in the 111th Congress

• S. 1017 (Landrieu, D-LA) - A bill to reauthorize the Cane River National Heritage Area Commission and expand the boundaries of the Cane River National Heritage Area in the State of Louisiana. As amended, the bill would extend the authorization of the commission until 2015, rather than 2025, and would require a sustainability report three years before authority for the commission expires. The Department had recommended that the committee defer action on the bill until national heritage area program legislation is enacted.
• S. 1018 (Landrieu, D-LA) - A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to construct a curatorial center for the use of Cane River Creole National Historical Park, the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, and the University, and for other purposes. As amended, the bill would provide that a lease of land by NPS for the center would be for a term of up to 40 years and of nominal cost. The Department supports the bill as reported.
• S. 2892 (Shelby, R-AL) - A bill to establish the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area, and for other purposes. The committee adopted technical amendments to the bill. The Department had recommended that the committee defer action on the bill until national heritage area program legislation is enacted and until the National Park Service completes its final review of the feasibility study for the proposed Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area.
• S. 349 (Casey, R-PA), A bill to establish the Susquehanna Gateway National Heritage Area in the State of Pennsylvania, and for other purposes.

• S. 3261 (Hutchison, R-TX) - A bill to establish the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area in the State of Texas, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 5144 (G. Green, D-TX) - A bill to establish the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area in the State of Texas, and for other purposes. (both introduced April 27)
• H.R. 4345 (Davis, D-AL) - To establish the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area, and for other purposes. (introduced 12/16/2009)

• S. 2892 (Shelby, R-AL) - A bill to establish the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.(introduced 12/16/2009)
  

• H.R.4081 Title: To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Willamette Falls National Heritage Area in Oregon, and for other purposes.
  Sponsor: Rep Schrader, Kurt [OR-5] (introduced 11/16/2009)      Cosponsors (None)
  Latest Major Action: 11/16/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

• H.R. 4004 (Rush, D-IL) - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of designating the study area as the Black Metropolis National Heritage Area in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes. (introduced 11/3/2009)

• H.R. 2996: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 2010
  S. Amdt. 2482 To protect property owners from being included without their knowledge or consent in any Federal preservation and promotion activities of any National Heritage Area. Sponsor: Sen. Thomas Coburn [R-OK] Became Public Law 111-88 on October 30, 2009.

• H.R.324 : To establish the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
  Sponsor: Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] (introduced 1/8/2009) Cosponsors (1)
  Committees: House Natural Resources; Senate Energy and Natural Resources
  Latest Major Action: 9/24/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

• H.R. 2167 (Cuellar, D-TX) - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain lands as the Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Corridor.



• S.22/H.R. 146, Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.
  Designates 9 new NHA's:
  - Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, CO
  - South Park National Heritage Area, CO
  - Northern Plains National Heritage Area, ND
  - Baltimore National Heritage Area, MD
  - Freedom's Way National Heritage Area, MA/NH
  - Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area, MS
  - Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, MS
  - Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, AL
  - Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area, AK
  Reauthorizes Cache La Poudre River National Heritage Area
  Authorizes 2 NHA Studies:
  - Chatahoochee Trace, AL/GA
  - Northern Neck, VA
  Amends 4 existing NHAs:
  - Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor
  - Delaware and Lehigh Valley National Heritage Corridor
  - Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
  - John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
  passed 3/25/09, signed into law 3/30/09
  
  
• H.R. 1105 (Obey, D-WI), Omnibus appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.
  Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-8
  Contains Interior Department budget as well as funding for National Heritage Area Program.
  
  
• H.R.1297 (Abercrombie, D-HI), To establish the Hawai'i Capital National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
  

• S. 359 (Inouye, D-HI) A bill to establish the Hawai'i Capital National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
  
  
• S. 349 (Casey, D-PA) - A bill to establish the Susquehanna Gateway National Heritage Area in the State of Pennsylvania, and for other purposes.
  

• H.R.526 (Marshall, D-GA) To establish the Ocmulgee National Heritage Corridor in the State of Georgia, and for other purposes.
  

• H.R.324 (D-Grijalva) To establish the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
  

During 2007 and 2008 much National Heritage Area related legislation was introduced. Some of the highlights include:

The Consolidated National Resources Act (S. 2739) of 2008 was signed into law on May 8, 2008. This Omnibus bill authorized 3 new heritage areas: The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area and the Niagra Falls National Heritage Area. It also increased NHA authorizations from $10 to $15 million dollars and required 9 NHAs to undergo an evaulation process prior to reauthorization.

The National Heritage Partnerships Act (S. 278, S. 3213, Title VIII, Subtitle A) was introduced in September. This bill aimed to create a system of National Heritage Areas as a component of the greater National Park System. The bill stipulated that feasibility studys be conducted before designation could take place in order to demonstrate that an area meets specified criteria . It also established benchmarks for management plans and evaluations. It set standards for management planning and recognized the two-way partnership between the NHAs and thematically or adjacent park units. It also included wording to protect private property rights.

During this session feasibility study bills were introduced for 6 potential heritage areas and designation bills were introduced for 17 potential heritage areas.

Heritage Area Related Bills introduced in the 110th Congress (2007-2008) A summary in .pdf format

Feasibility study bills for 8 potential heritage areas were introduced during this session and 22 designation bills were introduced.

An amended version of the National Heritage Areas Act of 2005 (formally the Soda Ash bill) (S. 203)- was signed into law on October 12, 2006. It included 10 new heritage area designations and 3 new feasibility studies.

National Heritage Areas Partnership Act (S. 243, H.R. 760, H.R. 6287) - was introduced. It passed the Senate in July.

Heritage Area Related Bills introduced in the 109th Congress (2006-2007) A summary in .pdf format