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Public Law117th CongressPublic Lands and Natural Resources
S. 1942Became Law

National Heritage Area Act

This bill became law

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What it doesSummary public law (Jan 5, 2023)

National Heritage Area Act

This act establishes a National Heritage Area 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 National Heritage Area System shall be composed of

  • each National Heritage Area, National Heritage Corridor, National Heritage Canalway, Cultural Heritage Corridor, National Heritage Route, and National Heritage Partnership designated by Congress before or on enactment of this act; and
  • each National Heritage Area designated by Congress after enactment of this act.

A National Heritage Area shall not be considered to be a unit of the National Park System nor subject to the authorities applicable to such units.

Interior may carry out or review a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of each proposed heritage area for designation as a National Heritage Area. Interior must review and certify whether the proposed area meets specified requirements, including that it has natural, historic, and cultural resources that represent distinctive aspects of the heritage of the United States.

An area shall be designated as a National Heritage Area only by an act of Congress.

Interior shall conduct studies to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating specified areas in Hawaii as the Kaena Point National Heritage Area and in Virginia and North Carolina as the Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area.

The act also (1) establishes or extends specified National Heritage Areas, (2) redesignates the America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership in Iowa as the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, and (3) extends the deadline for the management plans for certain heritage areas.

What just happenedJan 5, 2023

Became Public Law No: 117-339.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI](D-MI)Sponsor
16 cosponsors10 D5 R1 I
Read on Congress.gov
16cosponsors1committees31actions1amendments18related bills3subjects
  1. Jan 5, 2023President

    Became Public Law No: 117-339.

  2. Jan 5, 2023BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 117-339.

  3. Jan 5, 2023President

    Signed by President.

  4. Jan 5, 2023BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Dec 28, 2022Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Dec 28, 2022President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Dec 22, 2022FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  8. Dec 22, 2022FloorH37100

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 326 - 95 (Roll no. 540). (text: CR H10002-10006)

  9. Dec 22, 2022Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 326 - 95 (Roll no. 540).

  10. Dec 22, 2022FloorH30000

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10030-10031)

  11. Dec 22, 2022FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on S. 1942, the Chair put the question on passage and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Westerman demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on passage until a time to be announced.

  12. Dec 22, 2022FloorH35000

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  13. Dec 22, 2022FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S. 1942.

  14. Dec 22, 2022FloorH8D000

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 9640 and S. 1942. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. Rule provides for one hour of debate on each measure. Also provides for a motion to recommit H.R. 9640 and a motion to commit S. 1942. H. Res. 693 and H. Res. 1434 are adopted. Provides for the Majority Leader or a designee that the House suspend the rules as though under clause 1 of rule XV with respect to multile measures.

  15. Dec 22, 2022FloorH30000

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1529. (consideration: CR H10002-10009)

  16. Dec 21, 2022FloorH1L220

    Rule H. Res. 1529 passed House.

  17. Dec 21, 2022FloorH1L210

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1529 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 9640 and S. 1942. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. Rule provides for one hour of debate on each measure. Also provides for a motion to recommit H.R. 9640 and a motion to commit S. 1942. H. Res. 693 and H. Res. 1434 are adopted. Provides for the Majority Leader or a designee that the House suspend the rules as though under clause 1 of rule XV with respect to multile measures.

  18. Dec 21, 2022FloorH15000

    Held at the desk.

  19. Dec 21, 2022FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  20. Dec 21, 2022Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  21. Dec 20, 2022Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S9677-9681)

  22. Dec 20, 2022Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  23. Dec 20, 2022Floor

    The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (CR S9618)

  24. Dec 20, 2022Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S9614-9618)

  25. Sep 21, 2022Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 499.

  26. Sep 21, 2022Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-156.

    Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  27. Sep 21, 2022Committee14000

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-156.

    Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  28. May 3, 2022Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  29. Oct 6, 2021Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.

    National Parks Subcommittee
  30. May 27, 2021IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

    Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  31. May 27, 2021IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Public LawJan 5, 202349

National Heritage Area Act

This act establishes a National Heritage Area 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 National Heritage Area System shall be composed of

  • each National Heritage Area, National Heritage Corridor, National Heritage Canalway, Cultural Heritage Corridor, National Heritage Route, and National Heritage Partnership designated by Congress before or on enactment of this act; and
  • each National Heritage Area designated by Congress after enactment of this act.

A National Heritage Area shall not be considered to be a unit of the National Park System nor subject to the authorities applicable to such units.

Interior may carry out or review a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of each proposed heritage area for designation as a National Heritage Area. Interior must review and certify whether the proposed area meets specified requirements, including that it has natural, historic, and cultural resources that represent distinctive aspects of the heritage of the United States.

An area shall be designated as a National Heritage Area only by an act of Congress.

Interior shall conduct studies to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating specified areas in Hawaii as the Kaena Point National Heritage Area and in Virginia and North Carolina as the Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area.

The act also (1) establishes or extends specified National Heritage Areas, (2) redesignates the America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership in Iowa as the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, and (3) extends the deadline for the management plans for certain heritage areas.

Reported to SenateSep 21, 202225

National Heritage Area Act

This bill establishes a National Heritage Area System.

Through administering the heritage areas of 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 National Heritage Area System shall be composed of

  • each National Heritage Area, National Heritage Corridor, National Heritage Canalway, Cultural Heritage Corridor, National Heritage Route, and National Heritage Partnership designated by Congress before or on enactment of this bill; and
  • each National Heritage Area designated by Congress after enactment of this bill.

A National Heritage Area shall not be considered to be a unit of the National Park System nor subject to the authorities applicable to such units.

Interior may carry out or review a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of each proposed heritage area for designation as a National Heritage Area. Interior must review and certify whether the proposed area meets specified requirements, including that it has natural, historic, and cultural resources that represent distinctive aspects of the heritage of the United States.

An area shall be designated as a National Heritage Area only by an act of Congress.

Interior shall conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating specified areas in Virginia and North Carolina as the Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area.

The bill also establishes or extends specified National Heritage Areas.

The bill redesignates the America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership in Iowa as the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area.

The bill extends the deadline for the management plans for certain heritage areas.

Introduced in SenateMay 27, 2021

National Heritage Area Act

This bill requires a standard for the designation of National Heritage Areas.

The bill establishes a National Heritage Area System through which the Department of the Interior may furnish technical and financial assistance to local coordinating entities to support the establishment, development, and continuity of the National Heritage Areas.

Such system shall be composed of

  • each existing National Heritage Area, National Heritage Corridor, National Heritage Canalway, Cultural Heritage Corridor, and National Heritage Partnership designated by Congress; and
  • each National Heritage Area designated by Congress after enactment of this bill, unless the law designating the area exempts that area from the system by specific reference to this bill.

Under the system, Interior shall

  • review and approve management plans for heritage areas, and
  • submit to Congress reports on the activities conducted with respect to such areas.

Interior may carry out or review a study that assesses the suitability and feasibility of each proposed heritage area. Interior must review and certify whether a study conducted by others determines an area meets specified requirements, including that it has natural, historic, and cultural resources that represent distinctive aspects of the heritage of the United States.

The bill declares that a heritage area shall be designated only by an act of Congress.

Management plans must be developed for heritage areas designated under this bill.

National Heritage Area Act — Informed