Delta Daily News
The Alliance of National Heritage Areas honors Heritage Champions
Senator Hyde-Smith of Mississippi among five individuals honored for supporting and advancing America’s National Heritage Areas
By Andranita Williams
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) was recently named as a 2024 Heritage Champion by the Alliance of National Heritage Areas’ (ANHA). The awards were presented during ANHA’s annual Congressional Breakfast and Awards Reception. Two senators, two representatives, and the leader of one of the 62 National Heritage Areas were recognized for having gone above and beyond to support and advance America’s National Heritage Areas.
“The Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area congratulates all of the 2024 Heritage Champions, in particular Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi,” said Dr. Rolando Herts, executive director of the Mississippi Delta NHA and director of The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University. “As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Hyde-Smith helped get the National Heritage Area Act passed through that committee. This action ultimately paved the way for the Act to be passed by the Senate by unanimous consent in December 2022, which has sustained all National Heritage Areas through 2037.”
Awards were presented to Hyde-Smith, Dayton Sherrouse, executive director of the Augusta Canal NHA in Georgia for 28 years and founding member of ANHA, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), and former Representative Brian Higgins (D-NY).