Clarksdale Press Register
Funding For National Heritage Area Gets Biden's Signature
By the Press Register
President Joe Biden has signed the National Heritage Area Act (S. 1942) and on Dec. 22, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the legislation by a bi-partisan vote of 326-95, after the Senate passed the legislation without opposition two days earlier. It was one of the last bills passed in the 117th Congress.
The National Heritage Area Act creates standard criteria for the funding, management, and designation of National Heritage Areas across the country and provides them an annual authorization of up to $1 million per year for the next 15 years.
S. 1942 solves a challenge that as many as 45 existing NHAs would have experienced in the next two years, when their authorizations were set to sunset. Reauthorization requires Congressional approval, typically done through individual bills. S. 1942 also authorizes seven new National Heritage Areas.
“The National Heritage Area Act is a testament to the tremendous work National Heritage Areas do within communities across America,” said Sara Capen, Chairwoman of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas. “It is a direct reflection of the determination and resilience that is not only the bedrock of National Heritage Areas, but also the history of the places and people National Heritage Areas represent. The Alliance of National Heritage Areas is profoundly grateful for the tireless leadership and support we have received on a bipartisan basis within Congress and look forward to serving our communities for an additional 15 years.”
“Congress has shown bipartisan leadership by passing the National Heritage Area Act, and we thank our Mississippi congressional leaders — Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Congressman Bennie Thompson, and Senator Roger Wicker — for voting in favor of the Act and for their unwavering support over the years,” said Dr. Rolando Herts, Executive Director, Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, headquartered at The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. “Now that President Biden has signed the Act and made it federal law, NHAs will be able to continue bringing tremendous economic and cultural benefits to the regions they serve and to every corner of the United States.”
President Ronald Reagan established National Heritage Areas in 1984 when he signed a bill that created the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Area. Since then, 54 additional NHAs have been created across the United States, all through community-led efforts. Rather than an enclosed park as is typical of other programs administered by the National Park Service (NPS), NHAs are lived-in spaces that often span large geographic areas that cross multiple jurisdictions, including a total of 591 counties in 34 states.
“The passage of this act is great news for cultural heritage development in the Mississippi Delta,” said Dr. Stuart Rockoff, executive director of the Mississippi Humanities Council and MS Delta NHA Board Chair. “We’re thankful for the persistent support of our congressional delegation in getting this act over the finish line.” Dr. Kathie Stromile Golden, Provost at Mississippi Valley State University and MS Delta NHA Vice Chair is excited for what this means for the future of the Heritage Area. “We finalized a new Strategic Plan at our board retreat this past fall, and The National Heritage Area Act gives us the long-term stability to enact that plan and continue to invest in the people, places, and stories of the Mississippi Delta.”
“The Heritage Area is a valuable asset to Delta State and the Mississippi Delta,” said Dr. Andrew Novobilski, Provost at Delta State University and MS Delta NHA board member. “We’re proud to have the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area housed here at the Delta Center for Culture and Learning, and we’re excited to see what comes next with the passage of this Act.”