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S. 5422Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area Act

A bill to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to designate as a component of the National Heritage Area System the Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area in the State of Arkansas, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Tom CottonSen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Introduced September 17, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 25, 2026 at 2:51 AM UTC

The Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area Act amends the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to officially add the Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area to the National Heritage Area System. It designates a specific group of 17 Arkansas counties as part of this heritage area and assigns Arkansas State University Heritage Sites as the local coordinating entity. The bill also sets a timeline for a management plan and limits federal assistance to a 15‑year period.

Key Provisions

  • Adds the Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area, covering Clay, Greene, Craighead, Poinsett, Mississippi, Cross, Crittenden, St. Francis, Lee, Phillips, Monroe, Arkansas, Lincoln, Jefferson, Desha, Drew, and Chicot Counties, to the National Heritage Area System.
  • Designates Arkansas State University Heritage Sites as the local coordinating entity responsible for the area.
  • Requires the coordinating entity to submit a management plan to the Secretary of the Interior within three years of the law’s enactment.
  • Limits the Secretary of the Interior’s authority to provide assistance for the heritage area to 15 years from the date the law takes effect.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

September 17, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 17, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

September 17, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 17, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5422

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 17, 2026

Mr. Cotton introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to designate as a component of the National Heritage Area System the Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area in the State of Arkansas, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area Act.

2.

Designation of Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area

(a)

Designation

Section 6001(a) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116–9; 133 Stat. 768; 136 Stat. 6163) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(14)

Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area

(A)

In general

There is established as a component of the National Heritage Area System the Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area in the State of Arkansas, to consist of Clay, Greene, Craighead, Poinsett, Mississippi, Cross, Crittenden, St. Francis, Lee, Phillips, Monroe, Arkansas, Lincoln, Jefferson, Desha, Drew, and Chicot Counties, Arkansas.

(B)

Local coordinating entity

Arkansas State University Heritage Sites shall be the local coordinating entity for the National Heritage Area designated by subparagraph (A).

.

(b)

Management plan

For the purposes of section 6001(c) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116–9; 133 Stat. 772; 136 Stat. 6173), the local coordinating entity for the Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area designated under the amendment made by subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary of the Interior for approval a proposed management plan for the Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c)

Termination of authority

For the purposes of subsection (g)(4) of section 6001 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116–9; 133 Stat. 776), the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance under that section for the Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area designated under the amendment made by subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act.