Explore America Act of 2023
This bill modifies and sets forth new provisions regarding the Preserve America Program and authorizes partnerships with gateway communities adjacent to units of the National Park System.The Department of the Interior shall offer to enter into partnerships with gateway communities, including Native American communities and National Heritage Areas, to leverage heritage tourism assets in order to strengthen the local economies and create jobs in those communities.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3158 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3158
To amend title 54, United States Code, to authorize the provision of
technical assistance under the Preserve America Program and to direct
the Secretary of the Interior to enter into partnerships with
communities adjacent to units of the National Park System to leverage
local cultural heritage tourism assets.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 9, 2023
Mrs. Peltola introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 54, United States Code, to authorize the provision of
technical assistance under the Preserve America Program and to direct
the Secretary of the Interior to enter into partnerships with
communities adjacent to units of the National Park System to leverage
local cultural heritage tourism assets.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Explore America Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to strengthen economic development across the United
States by supporting cultural heritage tourism and historic
preservation activities through the Preserve America Program;
and
(2) to encourage the Director of the National Park Service
to partner with gateway communities (including Native American
communities and National Heritage Areas) to leverage local
cultural and historic heritage tourism assets.
SEC. 3. PRESERVE AMERICA GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--Section 311102 of title 54, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and the
Secretary of Commerce'' after ``Council''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Advisory role of secretary of commerce.--The
Secretary of Commerce shall advise the program with respect to
job creation, economic growth, and tourism policy and
promotion.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Technical Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--For any fiscal year for which funds are
not made available to provide grants under this section, to the
extent practicable, the program shall, in lieu of the grants,
provide technical assistance to the eligible entities described
in subsection (a) for projects that meet the eligibility
requirements described in subsection (b), as identified on the
list of projects prepared by the Secretary in accordance with
subsection (d).
``(2) Limitation.--The Secretary may take into account the
availability of staff resources at the Department of the
Interior, the Council, and the Department of Commerce for
purposes of determining the number of projects that are
provided technical assistance under this subsection.
``(3) Form.--The form of technical assistance under
paragraph (1) may include technical assistance provided by--
``(A) the Director, with respect to--
``(i) best practices in visitor services;
``(ii) the conduct of research,
inventories, and surveys;
``(iii) the documentation of historic
resources; and
``(iv) the interpretation and promotion of
cultural and heritage assets;
``(B) the Council, with respect to historic
preservation initiatives and best practices in
stewardship; and
``(C) the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to
economic development and job creation resources.''.
(b) Program Metrics.--Chapter 3111 of title 54, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 311105 as section 311106; and
(2) by inserting after section 311104 the following:
``Sec. 311105. Reports
``(a) Metrics.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of the Explore America Act of 2023, the Secretary, in consultation with
the Council and the Secretary of Commerce, shall develop specific
metrics to measure the effectiveness of the program, including--
``(1) the economic impact of the program on local
communities (including Native American communities and National
Heritage Areas); and
``(2) the effect of the program on efforts to preserve
heritage resources.
``(b) Grantee Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date on
which a grantee receives a grant or technical assistance under this
chapter, the grantee shall submit to the Secretary a report that--
``(1) describes the outcome of the project that was
provided a grant or technical assistance under this chapter;
and
``(2) based on the metrics developed under subsection (a),
assesses--
``(A) the accomplishments of the project; and
``(B) the impact of the project on the community in
which the project was carried out.
``(c) Annual Reports.--The Secretary shall submit an annual report
to the appropriate committees of Congress that includes data provided
by grantees to demonstrate the economic impact of the program.''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 3111
of title 54, United States Code, is amended by striking the item
relating to section 311105 and inserting the following:
``311105. Reports.
``311106. Authorization of appropriations.''.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PARTNERSHIPS WITH GATEWAY COMMUNITIES.
(a) In General.--Subdivision 1 of division B of subtitle III of
title 54, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``CHAPTER 3092--PARTNERSHIPS WITH GATEWAY COMMUNITIES
``Sec.
``309201. Definitions.
``309202. Partnerships with gateway communities.
``309203. Report.
``309204. Authorization of appropriations.
``Sec. 309201. Definitions
``In this chapter:
``(1) Appropriate congressional committee.--The term
`appropriate congressional committee' means--
``(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate;
``(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate;
``(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate;
``(D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives;
``(E) the Committee on Natural Resources of the
House of Representatives; and
``(F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives.
``(2) Gateway community.--The term `gateway community'
means a community adjacent to a System unit, including a Native
American community or a National Heritage Area.
``(3) Heritage tourism.--The term `heritage tourism' has
the meaning given the term in section 311101.
``Sec. 309202. Partnerships with gateway communities
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable,
offer to enter into partnerships with gateway communities to leverage
heritage tourism assets to strengthen local economies and create jobs
in the gateway communities with the goal of establishing a standardized
framework for partnerships throughout the System, including through--
``(1) providing financial assistance to gateway communities
to support outreach and promotional efforts;
``(2) providing technical assistance to gateway communities
based on Service best practices in tourism development and
visitor management, such as--
``(A) inventorying tourism resources in the gateway
community;
``(B) identifying historic heritage and cultural
resources;
``(C) engaging collaborative partners and
stakeholders;
``(D) designing community outreach and
participation strategies;
``(E) developing concept plans for trails, parks,
historic resources, and natural areas;
``(F) developing sustainable tourism development
frameworks for community planning; and
``(G) encouraging regional strategies for tourism
development and promotion; and
``(3) assisting gateway communities in accessing additional
Federal resources available to strengthen tourism assets and
support economic development.
``(b) Obtaining Financial and Technical Assistance.--The Secretary,
in consultation with stakeholders of System units, shall establish a
process through which States, units of local government, and Tribal
Governments may apply for designation as a gateway community to become
eligible for financial and technical assistance made available under
this section.
``(c) Metrics.--The Secretary, in consultation with gateway
communities, shall develop metrics to measure the impact of the
financial and technical assistance provided to gateway communities
under this section.
``Sec. 309203. Report
``Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees
a report that--
``(1) describes the efforts of the Secretary to partner
with gateway communities under this chapter;
``(2) analyzes the results of the financial and technical
assistance using the metrics developed under section 309202(c);
and
``(3) identifies--
``(A) the next steps that should be taken to
improve partnerships with gateway communities; and
``(B) any actions that the Secretary will take to
improve the partnerships.
``Sec. 309204. Authorization of appropriations
``There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are
necessary to carry out this chapter.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of chapters for title 54,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
chapter 3091 the following:
``3092. Partnerships with gateway communities...... 309201''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
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