S. 2985

Land Between the Rivers Southern Illinois National Heritage Area Act of 2006

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II

109th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2985

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 23, 2006

Mr. Durbin (for himself and Mr. Obama) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To establish the Land Between the Rivers National Heritage Area in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Land Between the Rivers Southern Illinois National Heritage Area Act of 2006.

2.

Findings

Congress finds that—

(1)

southern Illinois has a cohesive, distinctive, and important landscape that distinguishes the area as worthy of designation as a National Heritage Area;

(2)

the historic features of southern Illinois reflect a period during which the area was the strategic convergence point during the westward expansion of the United States;

(3)

the geographic centrality of southern Illinois ensured that the area played a pivotal military, social, and political role during the Civil War, which resulted in the area being known as the Confluence of Freedom;

(4)

southern Illinois is at the junction of the ending glaciers and 6 ecological divisions;

(5)

after the expeditions of Lewis and Clark, the land between the rivers became known as Egypt because of the rivers in, and the beauty and agricultural abundance of, the area;

(6)

Native Americans described the area in southern Illinois between the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers as the Land Between the Rivers;

(7)

a feasibility study led by the Office of Economic and Regional Development at Southern Illinois University Carbondale that was revised in April 2006 documents a sufficient assemblage of nationally distinctive historic resources to demonstrate the feasibility of, and the need for, establishing the Land Between the Rivers National Heritage Area; and

(8)

stakeholders participating in the feasibility study process for the Heritage Area have developed a proposed management entity and financial plan to preserve the natural, cultural, historic, and scenic features of the area while furthering recreational and educational opportunities in the area.

3.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Heritage area

The term Heritage Area means the Land Between the Rivers National Heritage Area established by section 4(a).

(2)

Management entity

The term management entity means the management entity for the Heritage Area designated by section 4(c).

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(4)

State

The term State means the State of Illinois.

4.

Land between the Rivers National Heritage Area

(a)

Establishment

There is established in the State the Land Between the Rivers National Heritage Area.

(b)

Boundaries

The Heritage Area shall include—

(1)

Kincaid Mound, Fort de Chartres, Kaskaskia, Fort Massac, Wilkinsonville Contonment, the Lewis and Clark Sculpture, Flat Boat, Cave-in-Rock, the Shawneetown Bank Building, the Iron Furnace, the Crenshaw Slave House, Roots House, the site of the Lincoln-Douglas debate, certain sites associated with John A. Logan, the Fort Defiance Planning Map, Mound City National Cemetary, and Riverlore Mansion; and

(2)

any other sites in Randolph, Perry, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Pulaski, and Massac Counties in the State that the Secretary, in consultation with the management entity, determine to be appropriate for inclusion in the Heritage Area.

(c)

Management entity

The management entity for the Heritage Area shall be the Southern Illinois University Carbondale.