H.R. 1316: National Heritage Area Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-02-24 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-02-24 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Subcommittee Hearings Held. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

National Heritage Area Act of 2021

Plain summary

National Heritage Area Act of 2021 This bill establishes a National Heritage Areas System to recognize certain areas of the United States that tell nationally significant stories and to conserve, enhance, and interpret the areas' natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources that illustrate significant aspects of U.S. heritage, and authorizes appropriations through FY2034 for each National Heritage Area. Through 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 bill extends the authority for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission and the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission until September 30, 2034. The local coordinating entity of a National Heritage Area, not later than three years after the area is included in the National Heritage Area System, shall submit to Interior a management plan for approval. Interior, not later than one year before the authorization for federal funding expires for a National Heritage Area, shall (1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of that area, and (2) submit a report detailing the evaluation to specified congressional committees. Based upon the evaluation, Interior shall prepare a report with recommendations for the National Park Service's continued role, if any, with respect to the area. Interior may carry out or certify a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating a specific geographic area as a National Heritage Area to be included in the National Heritage Area System.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

National Heritage Area Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] · 138 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Ed Case (D-HI), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Daniel Meuser (R-PA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Haley M. Stevens (D-MI), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Michael R. Turner (R-OH), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Adam Smith (D-WA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Sean Casten (D-IL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Tom Cole (R-OK) and 78 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] reported raising $1.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr1316.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr1316 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117