S. 3194 – Reading Mode

Calendar No. 646

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3194

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 18, 2025

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

September 17, 2026

Reported by Mr. Lee, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land in California as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area Study Act.

Study

(a)

In general

The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the State of California, local organizations and governmental agencies, Tribal Governments, nonprofit organizations, and other appropriate entities, including the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, shall conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the areas described in subsection (b) as a National Heritage Area, to be known as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area.

(b)

Description of study area

The areas to be studied under subsection (a) include—

(1)

Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties in the State of California; and

(2)

any other area in the State of California that—

(A)

has heritage aspects that are similar to the heritage aspects of an area described in paragraph (1); and

(B)

is adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, an area described in paragraph (1).

(c)

Applicable Law

The study required under subsection (a) shall be conducted in accordance with section 120103(a) of title 54, United States Code.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area Study Act.

Study

(a)

Definition of Tribal government

In this section, the term Tribal government means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation, individually identified (including parenthetically) on the most recent list published by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).

(b)

Study required

The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the State of California, local organizations and governmental agencies, Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and other appropriate entities, including the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, shall conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the areas described in subsection (c) as a National Heritage Area, to be known as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area.

(c)