Designations Begin Expiring As Early as Fiscal Year (FY) 2021
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8) introduced the Pennsylvania National Heritage Area Act, legislation to extend the authorization of Pennsylvania National Heritage Areas (NHAs) set to expire between FY 2021-2022. Additionally, this bill would eliminate incongruent funding restrictions and streamline appropriations levels for each NHA.
“Pennsylvania’s Heritage Areas protect our natural and cultural resources while strengthening communities and stimulating local economies,” said Senator Casey. “This legislation provides our NHAs the certainty they deserve to continue their important conservation and economic development work for the next 15 years.”
“The heritage areas in northeastern Pennsylvania not only celebrate our industrial roots and preserve our natural areas, they are also economic drivers that boost local small business,” said Representative Cartwright. “A renewed investment in our Commonwealth’s national heritage areas is an investment in our economic recovery.”
The Pennsylvania National Heritage Areas Act would reauthorize the following NHAs through FY 2036:
- Rivers of Steel Industry National Heritage Area
- Lackawanna Heritage Valley National Heritage Area
- Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
- Schuylkill River National Heritage Area
- Oil Region National Heritage Area
This legislation is also co-sponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4), Mike Doyle (D-PA-18), Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6), Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), Conor Lamb (D-PA-17), Dan Meuser (R-PA-9), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14), Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15) and Susan Wild (D-PA-7).
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