 LaHood's legislation,
along with companion legislation in the Senate, authored by Sen.
Richard Durbin, D-Ill., has come about due to the strong leadership
of the Looking for
Lincoln Heritage Coalition board and their director Nicky
Stratton. The organization has spearheaded efforts to create this
National Heritage Area. Earlier this year, Stratton testified before
a U.S. House panel, and the coalition chairman, Tom Martin,
testified before a Senate committee in support of the legislation.
"The legacy of Abraham Lincoln is so interwoven with the history of
Illinois -- and especially the central part of our state -- that it
is only right that we create this Heritage Area as we are on the
cusp of the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth in 2009," said LaHood.
"There are dozens of sites throughout the 42 counties of this
Heritage Area that have significant ties to Lincoln. This federal
designation will allow us to tie these sites together to better
convey to future generations the impact that Abraham Lincoln has had
on our country, and the influence that Illinois had on Lincoln.
"I am extremely proud that I represent the very same 11 counties
which Abraham Lincoln represented during his single term in
Congress," LaHood added. "I could not think of a better way to
commemorate the Lincoln Bicentennial than by creating this Heritage
Area. I would like to commend Nicky Stratton for her tireless work
on this effort, as well as Senator Durbin for leading the charge in
the Senate for this legislation."
A summary of the Abraham Lincoln Heritage Area legislation and
LaHood's House floor statement in support of the bill follow:
Summary of the legislation creating the Abraham Lincoln Heritage
Area
The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area will encompass an area
spanning 42 counties across the central portion of Illinois.
National Heritage Areas are places designated by Congress where the
natural, cultural, historic and scenic resources are considered
uniquely representative of the American experience.
The legislation authorizes annual federal funding of $1 million
for up to 15 years. This funding would allow for grants to be
awarded to entities seeking to carry out the mission of the Heritage
Area. Any funding awarded must be matched dollar-for-dollar in
state, local or private funds.
Once this bill becomes law, the first step for the Abraham
Lincoln Heritage Area will be to create a management plan containing
a resource inventory, goals and strategies, potential funding
sources, and an interpretative and business plan. The process will
include significant public involvement. The management plan must be
completed and approved by the National Park Service before matching
funds are released for specific projects.
The legislation also designates the Looking for Lincoln Heritage
Coalition as the management entity for the new Heritage Area.
Looking for Lincoln is a 501(c)(3) organization that has been in
existence for almost nine years. The organization works with a
consortium of central Illinois communities and historic sites that
have significant Lincoln history in common. Looking for Lincoln
helps communities enhance and improve the interpretation of their
Lincoln historic sites and then provides marketing support to those
that have "visitor-ready" sites.
The Heritage Area includes the following Illinois counties:
Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Coles,
Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Fayette, Fulton, Greene,
Hancock, Henderson, Jersey, Knox, LaSalle, Logan, McLean, McDonough,
Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan,
Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby,
Tazewell, Vermillion, Warren and Woodford.
[to top of second column] |
Statement for the record
The Honorable Ray
LaHood (IL-18)
H.R. 1483
October 24, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I rise
today in strong support of H.R. 1483, legislation to amend the
Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act to establish six new
national heritage areas, including one running through my own
district known as the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.
I would first like
to thank Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Young for bringing this
important matter to the Floor today. I would also like to thank
Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Bishop for holding hearings on
the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area within in their
Subcommittee.
Mr. Speaker, I
believe the establishment of Heritage Areas provides us with a
unique opportunity to take a closer look at some of the most
culturally significant areas of our country. As a former school
teacher, I believe very strongly in the need to study the past in
order to understand how we got to where we are today. Many of the
issues that shaped President Lincoln's legacy are still relevant
today, and it is worthwhile to continue to explore these issues. The
establishment of the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area within
H.R. 1483 would accomplish these goals.
The purpose of
creating this National Heritage Area in Illinois is to manage,
study, and promote Lincoln related historical sites. Scattered
throughout the central Illinois landscape are countless places where
Lincoln traveled and lived. As children, we are taught the basic
history of our country, including the basic facts of President
Lincoln's life and legacy. What the history books usually don't
teach are the experiences and events that shaped President Lincoln
and made him the man he became. By designating this heritage area,
we can tie these many Lincoln sites together in order to create a
tapestry that will allow us to better understand the influences that
shaped President Lincoln's life.
During my time in
Congress, I have had the unique honor of representing all 11
counties that originally formed Abraham Lincoln's Congressional
District when he served one term in the House of Representatives.
The year 2009 represents the 200th year since Abraham Lincoln's
birth. I am a co-chair, along with Senator Durbin, of the Abraham
Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which is in charge of celebrating
this event. What better way to honor one of the most prominent
figures in American history, who affected millions of lives, than
preserving and studying further those places where he lived and
worked that had a profound effect on his later life.
I urge my
colleagues to support the preservation of Abraham Lincoln's legacy
by voting in favor of H.R. 1483.
[Text from file received from
Rep. Ray LaHood, 18th
Congressional District]
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