[Senate Report 110-177]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 375
110th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 110-177
======================================================================
ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT
_______
September 17, 2007.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bingaman, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 955]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 955) to establish the Abraham Lincoln
National Heritage Area, and for other purposes, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an
amendment and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu
thereof the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as ``Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the
Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area established by section
3(a).
(2) Management entity.--The term ``management entity'' means
the management entity for the Heritage Area designated by
section 4(a).
(3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means the
plan developed by the management entity under section 5(a).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior.
(5) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Illinois.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.
(a) In General.--There is established in the State the Abraham
Lincoln National Heritage Area.
(b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall include--
(1) a core area located in central Illinois, consisting of
Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark,
Coles, Cumberland, Dewitt, Douglas, Edgar, Fayette, Fulton,
Greene, Hancock, Henderson, Jersey, Knox, LaSalle, Logan,
Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Mason, McDonough, McLean, Menard,
Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Pike, Sangamon,
Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Tazwell, Vermillion, Warren, and
Woodford counties;
(2) any sites, buildings, and districts within the core area
that are recommended in the management plan; and
(3) each of the following sites:
(A) Lincoln Home National Historic Site.
(B) Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site.
(C) Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site.
(D) Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.
(E) Thomas and Sara Bush Lincoln Log Cabin and Living
History Farm State Historic Site.
(F) Mt. Pulaski, Postville State Historic Sites and
Metamora Courthouse.
(G) Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site.
(H) David Davis Mansion State Historic Site.
(I) Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site.
(J) Lincoln Douglas Debate Museum.
(K) Macon County Log Court House.
(L) Richard J. Oglesby Mansion.
(M) Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial.
(N) Governor John Wood Mansion.
(O) Beardstown Courthouse.
(P) Old Main at Knox College.
(Q) Carl Sandburg Home State Historic Site.
(R) Bryant Cottage State Historic Site.
(S) Dr. William Fithian Home.
(T) Vermillion County Museum.
(c) Map.--A map of the Heritage Area shall be--
(1) included in the management plan; and
(2) on file in the appropriate offices of the National Park
Service.
SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF COALITION AS MANAGEMENT ENTITY.
(a) Management Entity.--The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition
shall be the management entity for the Heritage Area.
(b) Authorities of Management Entity.--The management entity may,
for purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, use
Federal funds made available under this Act--
(1) to prepare reports, studies, interpretive exhibits and
programs, historic preservation projects, and other activities
recommended in the management plan for the Heritage Area;
(2) to pay for operational expenses of the management entity;
(3) to make grants to the State, political subdivisions of
the State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons;
(4) to enter into cooperative agreements with the State,
political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations,
and other organizations;
(5) to hire and compensate staff;
(6) to obtain funds or services from any source, including
funds and services provided under any other Federal program or
law; and
(7) to contract for goods and services.
(c) Duties of Management Entity.--To further the purposes of the
Heritage Area, the management entity shall--
(1) prepare a management plan for the Heritage Area in
accordance with section 5;
(2) give priority to the implementation of actions, goals,
and strategies set forth in the management plan, including
assisting units of government and other persons in--
(A) carrying out programs and projects that recognize
and protect important resource values in the Heritage
Area;
(B) encouraging economic viability in the Heritage
Area in accordance with the goals of the management
plan;
(C) establishing and maintaining interpretive
exhibits in the Heritage Area;
(D) developing heritage-based recreational and
educational opportunities for residents and visitors in
the Heritage Area;
(E) increasing public awareness of and appreciation
for the natural, historic, and cultural resources of
the Heritage Area;
(F) restoring historic buildings that are--
(i) located in the Heritage Area; and
(ii) related to the themes of the Heritage
Area; and
(G) installing throughout the Heritage Area clear,
consistent, and appropriate signs identifying public
access points and sites of interest;
(3) consider the interests of diverse units of government,
businesses, tourism officials, private property owners, and
nonprofit groups within the Heritage Area in developing and
implementing the management plan;
(4) conduct public meetings at least semiannually regarding
the development and implementation of the management plan; and
(5) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds are received
under this Act--
(A) submit to the Secretary an annual report that
describes--
(i) the accomplishments of the management
entity;
(ii) the expenses and income of the
management entity; and
(iii) the entities to which the management
entity made any grants;
(B) make available for audit all records relating to
the expenditure of the Federal funds and any matching
funds; and
(C) require, with respect to all agreements
authorizing the expenditure of Federal funds by other
organizations, that the receiving organizations make
available for audit all records relating to the
expenditure of the Federal funds.
(d) Prohibition on Acquisition of Real Property.--
(1) In general.--The management entity shall not use Federal
funds received under this Act to acquire real property or any
interest in real property.
(2) Other sources.--Nothing in this Act precludes the
management entity from using Federal funds from other sources
for authorized purposes, including the acquisition of real
property or any interest in real property.
SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which
funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the management
entity shall prepare and submit for review to the Secretary a
management plan for the Heritage Area.
(b) Contents.--The management plan for the Heritage Area shall--
(1) include comprehensive policies, strategies, and
recommendations for the conservation, funding, management, and
development of the Heritage Area;
(2) take into consideration existing State, county, and local
plans;
(3) specify the existing and potential sources of funding to
protect, manage, and develop the Heritage Area during the first
5 years of implementation of the management plan;
(4) include--
(A) a description of actions that governments,
private organizations, and individuals have agreed to
take to protect the natural, historic, and cultural
resources of the Heritage Area;
(B) an inventory of the natural, historic, cultural,
education, scenic, and recreational resources of the
Heritage Area relating to the themes of the Heritage
Area that should be preserved, restored, managed,
developed or maintained; and
(C) an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area; and
(5) describe a program of implementation for the management
plan, including--
(A) plans for resource protection, restoration, and
construction; and
(B) specific commitments for implementation during
the first 5 years of implementation.
(c) Disqualification From Funding.--If a proposed management plan
is not submitted to the Secretary by the date that is 3 years after the
date on which funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the
management entity may not receive additional funding under this Act
until the date on which the Secretary receives the proposed management
plan.
(d) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the management entity submits the management plan to the
Secretary, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the
proposed management plan.
(2) Considerations.--In determining whether to approve or
disapprove the management plan, the Secretary shall consider
whether--
(A) the management entity is representative of the
diverse interests of the Heritage Area, including
governments, natural and historic resource protection
organizations, educational institutions, businesses,
and recreational organizations;
(B) the management entity has provided adequate
opportunities (including public hearings) for public
and governmental involvement in the preparation of the
management plan;
(C) the resource protection and interpretation
strategies contained in the management plan, if
implemented, would adequately protect the natural,
historic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area;
and
(D) the management plan is supported by the
appropriate State and local officials, the cooperation
of which is needed to ensure the effective
implementation of the State and local aspects of the
management plan.
(3) Disapproval and revisions.--
(A) In general.--If the Secretary disapproves a
proposed management plan, the Secretary shall--
(i) advise the management entity, in writing,
of the reasons for the disapproval; and
(ii) make recommendations for revision of the
proposed management plan.
(B) Approval or disapproval.--The Secretary shall
approve or disapprove a revised management plan not
later than 180 days after the date on which the revised
management plan is submitted.
(e) Approval of Amendments.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall review and approve or
disapprove substantial amendments to the management plan in
accordance with subsection (d).
(2) Funding.--Funds appropriated under this Act may not be
expended to implement any changes made by an amendment to the
management plan until the Secretary approves the amendment.
SEC. 6. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) In General.--Nothing in this Act affects the authority of a
Federal agency to provide technical or financial assistance under any
other law.
(b) Consultation and Coordination.--The head of any Federal agency
planning to conduct activities that may have an impact on the Heritage
Area is encouraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the
Secretary and the management entity to the maximum extent practicable.
(c) Other Federal Agencies.--Nothing in this Act--
(1) modifies, alters, or amends any law or regulation
authorizing a Federal agency to manage Federal land under the
jurisdiction of the Federal agency;
(2) limits the discretion of a Federal land manager to
implement an approved land use plan within the boundaries of
the Heritage Area; or
(3) modifies, alters, or amends any authorized use of Federal
land under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency.
SEC. 7. PRIVATE PROPERTY AND REGULATORY PROTECTIONS.
Nothing in this Act--
(1) abridges the rights of any property owner (whether public
or private), including the right to refrain from participating
in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within the
Heritage Area;
(2) requires any property owner to permit public access
(including access by Federal, State, or local agencies) to the
property of the property owner, or to modify public access or
use of property of the property owner under any other Federal,
State, or local law;
(3) alters any duly adopted land use regulation, approved
land use plan, or other regulatory authority of any Federal,
State, or local agency, or conveys any land use or other
regulatory authority to the management entity;
(4) authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of
water or water rights;
(5) diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish and
wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting
within the Heritage Area; or
(6) creates any liability, or affects any liability under any
other law, of any private property owner with respect to any
person injured on the private property.
SEC. 8. EVALUATION; REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years before the date on which
authority for Federal funding terminates for the Heritage Area, the
Secretary shall--
(1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the
Heritage Area; and
(2) prepare a report in accordance with subsection (c).
(b) Evaluation.--An evaluation conducted under subsection (a)(1)
shall--
(1) assess the progress of the management entity with respect
to--
(A) accomplishing the purposes of this Act for the
Heritage Area; and
(B) achieving the goals and objectives of the
approved management plan for the Heritage Area;
(2) analyze the Federal, State, local, and private
investments in the Heritage Area to determine the leverage and
impact of the investments; and
(3) review the management structure, partnership
relationships, and funding of the Heritage Area for purposes of
identifying the critical components for sustainability of the
Heritage Area.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Based on the evaluation conducted under
subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall prepare a report that
includes recommendations for the future role of the National
Park Service, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area.
(2) Required analysis.--If the report prepared under
paragraph (1) recommends that Federal funding for the Heritage
Area be reauthorized, the report shall include an analysis of--
(A) ways in which Federal funding for the Heritage
Area may be reduced or eliminated; and
(B) the appropriate time period necessary to achieve
the recommended reduction or elimination.
(3) Submission to congress.--On completion of the report, the
Secretary shall submit the report to--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of
the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act $10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be
authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year.
(b) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The Federal share of the cost of any
activity carried out using funds made available under this Act shall be
not more than 50 percent.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.
The authority of the Secretary to provide financial assistance
under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the date
of enactment of this Act.
PURPOSE
The purpose of S. 955 is to designate the Abraham Lincoln
National Heritage Area in Illinois.
BACKGROUND AND NEED
The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area would encompass
an area spanning 41 Central Illinois counties, including
Presidential sites in Springfield as well as other notable
sites including the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum in
Charleston, and the Macon County Log Courthouse in Decatur.
In 1998, the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, a
consortium of Illinois communities that share the legacy of
Abraham Lincoln, coordinated a community effort to promote
tourism related to the various aspects of Lincoln's life. As a
result of these efforts, the concept of a broader National
Heritage Area was developed, centered around the Lincoln Home
National Historic Site and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library and Museum, both in Springfield. Other significant
historic sites within the proposed heritage area include the
Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and the Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Museum.
The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition has prepared and
submitted to the National Park Service a feasibility study for
the proposed Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. The study
concluded that the proposal satisfies all of the criteria for
designation as a National Heritage Area.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
S. 955 was introduced by Senators Durbin and Obama on March
21, 2007. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on
the bill on July 12, 2007. At its business meeting on July 25,
2007, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S.
955 favorably reported with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open
business session on July 25, 2007, by a voice vote of a quorum
present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 955, if amended as
described herein.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
During its consideration of S. 955, the Committee adopted
an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment
deletes the Congressional findings, and modifies the management
language for the heritage area to make it consistent with the
authorities provided for other national heritage areas. The
amendment also adds a requirement that the Secretary of the
Interior conduct an evaluation of the heritage area not later
than three years before the date authority for Federal funding
terminates, to assess the progress of the management entity in
accomplishing the purposes for which the heritage area was
established and whether the goals and objectives of the
management plan for the heritage area were achieved. The
Secretary is required to submit a report of the findings of the
evaluation to the Congressional authorizing Committees.
The amendment is explained in detail in the section-by-
section analysis, below.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1 provides the short title, the ``Abraham Lincoln
National Heritage Area Act.''
Section 2 defines key terms used in the Act.
Section 3(a) establishes the Abraham Lincoln National
Heritage Area (``heritage area'') in the State of Illinois.
Subsection (b) describes the boundaries of the heritage
area and lists the counties and significant historic site that
the heritage area encompasses.
Subsection (c) states that a map of the heritage area shall
be included in the management plan and available on file in
appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
Section 4(a) designates the Looking for Lincoln Heritage
Coalition as the management entity for the heritage area.
Subsection (b) lists the authorities of the management
entity. The subsection authorizes the management entity to use
Federal funds to prepare activities recommended in the
management plan for the heritage area, pay for operational
expenses, make grants and enter into cooperative agreements,
hire staff, obtain funds or services from any source, and
contract for goods or services.
Subsection (c) details the duties of the management entity.
Subsection (d) prohibits the management entity from using
Federal funds made available under this Act to acquire real
property or an interest in real property, although it may use
Federal funds from other sources for authorized purposes, which
may include property acquisition.
Section 5(a) requires the management entity to prepare and
submit for review a management plan to the Secretary no later
than three years after the date on which the funds are made
available to carry out this Act.
Subsection (b) provides the requirements for the contents
of the management plan.
Subsection (c) states that if the management plan is not
submitted within the three-year period, Federal funding is
suspended until the plan is submitted to the Secretary.
Subsection (d) requires the Secretary to approve or
disapprove the management plan within six months after
receiving the plan and lists the criteria the Secretary is to
consider in determining whether to approve or disapprove the
plan.
Subsection (e) requires that the Secretary review and
approve or disapprove any amendment that would make a
substantial change to the management plan.
Section 6 describes the relationship of other Federal
agencies to the heritage area.
Subsection (a) clarifies that nothing in this Act affects
the authority of a Federal agency to provide technical or
financial assistance under any other law.
Subsection (b) encourages the head of a Federal agency
planning to conduct activities that may have an impact on the
heritage area to consult and coordinate the activities with the
Secretary and the management entity to the maximum extent
practicable.
Subsection (c) clarifies that nothing in this Act modifies
authorities of Federal agencies to manage Federal land, limits
the discretion of a Federal agency to implement an approved
land use plan, or modifies or alters any authorized use of
Federal land.
Section 7 contains several savings provisions to clarify
that the designation of the national heritage area will not
affect private property rights, affect governmental land use
regulation, reserve or appropriate water rights, diminish the
authority of the State to manage fish and wildlife, or create
any liability for property owners within the heritage area.
Section 8(a) requires the Secretary to conduct an
evaluation of the accomplishments of the national heritage area
not later than three years before the date Federal funding
authority terminates.
Subsection (b) provides that the evaluation shall assess
the progress of the management entity with respect to
accomplishing the purposes of this Act for the heritage area
and whether the management entity achieved the goals and
objectives of the approved management plan for the heritage
area. The evaluation is also required to analyze governmental
investments in the heritage area to determine the leverage and
impact of the investments.
Subsection (c) requires the Secretary to prepare a report,
based on the evaluation, that includes recommendations for the
future role of the National Park Service, if any, for the
heritage area. If the report recommends that Federal funding
for the area be reauthorized, it is required to include an
analysis of ways Federal funding may be reduced or eliminated.
The report is to be submitted to the House and Senate
authorizing committees.
Section 9(a) authorizes total appropriations of $10
million, with not more than $1 million authorized to be
appropriated for any fiscal year.
Subsection (b) requires Federal funding to be matched on a
50:50 basis with funds from non-Federal sources.
Section 10 provides that the authority of the Secretary to
provide assistance under this Act terminates 15 years after the
date of enactment.
COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
The following estimate of costs of this measure has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
July 31, 2007.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 955, the Abraham
Lincoln National Heritage Area Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew
Pickford.
Sincerely,
Peter R. Orszag.
Enclosure.
S. 955--Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Act
Summary: S. 955 would establish the Abraham Lincoln
National Heritage Area (NHA) in the state of Illinois. The bill
would designate the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition (a
consortium of Illinois communities) to serve as the management
entity for the proposed NHA. The coalition would be responsible
for developing a management plan for the NHA and for assisting
local governments and nonprofit agencies in implementing the
plan. In addition, the legislation would require the Department
of the Interior to report to the Congress on the work of the
NHA.
The legislation would authorize the appropriation of $10
million, not to exceed $1 million annually, for financial
assistance to the coalition or other eligible entities over the
next 15 years. CBO estimates that implementing S. 955 would
cost $5 million over the 2008-2012 period, with additional
amounts spent after 2012.
Enacting S. 955 would have no effect on direct spending or
revenues. S. 955 contains no intergovernmental or private-
sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(UMRA).
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of S. 955 is shown in the following table. The
costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of
dollars--
---------------------------------------
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Estimated Authorization Level... 1 1 1 1 1
Estimated Outlays............... 1 1 1 1 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basis of estimate: Assuming appropriation of the authorized
amounts, CBO estimates that implementing S. 955 would cost $5
million over the 2008-2012 period and $5 million over the
following five to 10 years. Such amounts would be used to cover
a portion of the costs of reporting, planning, establishing,
operating, and interpreting the heritage area.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 955
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA. State and local governments would benefit from
grants and technical assistance authorized by the bill.
Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Matthew Pickford.
Impact on State, local, and tribal governments: Leo Lex. Impact
on the private sector: Craig Cammarata.
Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out S. 955. The bill is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals
and businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of S. 955, as ordered reported.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
The testimony provided by the Department of the Interior at
the July 12, 2007, Subcommittee hearing on S. 955 follows:
Statement of Katherine H. Stevenson, Acting assistant Director,
Business Services, National Park Service, Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear
before your committee to present the views of the Department of
the Interior on S. 955, a bill to establish the Abraham Lincoln
National Heritage Area in the State of Illinois.
In 1998, the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Project, a
grassroots organization in central Illinois, coordinated a
community effort to promote tourism, using the various aspects
of Abraham Lincoln's life. It initially focused on single
projects and strategic planning with a variety of public and
private resources to help local communities research their
connections to Lincoln and his times. However, as they moved
forward, the scope of the project broadened to identify and
promote the various natural, social, and cultural landscapes
that made up Lincoln's life. As a result, work toward
developing a National Heritage Area (NHA) began with the idea
that the National Park Service's Lincoln Home National Historic
Site and the future Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and
Museum would serve as the central core.
The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition submitted a
feasibility study to designate the Abraham Lincoln National
Heritage Area to the National Park Service for review. The
study concluded that the region met all of the criteria for
designation as a NHA. Nevertheless, we recommend that the
committee defer action on S. 955 and all other proposed
heritage area designations until program legislation is enacted
that establishes guidelines and a process for the designation
of NHAs.
Last year, the Administration sent to Congress a
legislative proposal to establish guidelines and a process for
designation. Bills were introduced in the 109th Congress (S.
243, H.R. 760 and H.R. 6287) that incorporated the majority of
the provisions of the Administration's proposal, and S. 243
passed the Senate. During the 110th Congress, a similar
heritage area program bill, S. 278, has been introduced, and we
look forward to continuing to work with Congress on this very
important issue.
With 37 national heritage areas designated across 27
states, and more heritage area legislative proposals in the
pipeline, the Administration believes it is critical at this
juncture for Congress to enact NHA program legislation. This
legislation would provide a much-needed framework for
evaluating proposed NHAs, offering guidelines for successful
planning and management, clarifying the roles and
responsibilities of all parties, and standardizing timeframes
and funding for designated areas. Program legislation also
would clarify the expectation that heritage areas work toward
self-sufficiency by outlining the necessary steps, including
appropriate planning, to achieve that shared goal.
S. 955 establishes the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage
Area in a core area defined by 42 counties in central Illinois.
We expect that the final boundary may be a more manageable
size. The area includes rich opportunities where visitors may
experience the physical environment of rivers, woodlands, and
prairies familiar to Abraham Lincoln and his generation. There
are many cultural and historic sites, including the Lincoln
Tomb State Historic Site, the Lincoln Home National Historic
Site, the Lincoln Douglas Debate Museum, the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library & Museum, and a broad diversity of
folklife throughout the ``Land of Lincoln.''
S. 955 designates the Looking for Lincoln Heritage
Coalition as the management entity and outlines its duties. The
bill also authorizes the development of a management plan
within three years of enactment and authorizes the use of
federal funds to develop and implement that plan. If the plan
is not submitted within three years of enactment of this Act,
the NHA becomes ineligible for federal funding until a plan is
submitted to the Secretary. Additionally, the Secretary may, at
the request of the management entity, provide technical
assistance and enter into cooperative agreements with other
public and private entities.
S. 955 also contains safeguards to protect private
property, including a prohibition on the use of federal funds
to acquire real property. The bill proposes no new restrictions
with regard to public use and access to private property.
Abraham Lincoln was an itinerate lawyer who traveled
extensively through a large region in central Illinois. Hours
spent riding through the area, mostly by horseback, bonded the
man and the landscape together. The region tells the
comprehensive story of this important man, lawyer, husband,
father, and our nation's 16th President. It is here that
Abraham Lincoln pondered this nation, formed his convictions,
and even created his debate platform for the now famous
Lincoln-Douglas debates still resounding across this region
through continued dialog of the same themes.
Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd, owned only one
home in the heart of Illinois, and it is here that he returned
for his permanent rest. The home itself and the neighborhood
describe an emotional Abraham Lincoln, who opened his farewell
remarks to the citizens of Springfield, Illinois on February
11, 1861 with these words: ``My friends--No one, not in my
situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this
parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe
everything.'' He might very well have been speaking to friends
and neighbors he had met with and represented as their lawyer
throughout the 24 years he had ridden throughout the region.
Lincoln left the home he and his family had lived in for 17
years to serve as president of a nation on the verge of a civil
war.
While the proposed Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area
contains significant natural, historical, and cultural
resources, we would again request that the committee defer
action until national heritage area program legislation is
enacted.
If the Committee chooses to move forward with this bill,
the Department would recommend that the bill be amended to
include an additional requirement for an evaluation to be
conducted by the Secretary, three years prior to the cessation
of federal funding under this act. The evaluation would examine
the accomplishments of the heritage area in meeting the goals
of the management plan; analyze the leveraging and impact of
investments to the heritage area; identify the critical
components of the management structure and sustainability of
the heritage area; and recommend what future role, if any, the
National Park Service should have with respect to the heritage
area.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared remarks. I would
be pleased to answer any questions you or other members of the
Subcommittee may have.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no
changes in existing law are made by the bill S. 955, as ordered
reported.