Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Act

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Democrat · NY · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 632.

2026-09-17

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would establish the Finger Lakes region in New York as a National Heritage Area, which means the federal government would help protect and promote the area's natural, cultural, and historical resources through funding and coordination with local communities. The designation would support tourism, preservation of historic sites, and environmental conservation in the region while allowing local landowners and communities to maintain control over their own property and decisions. The program would benefit visitors, local businesses, and residents interested in preserving the area's unique character and heritage.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 1288 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1288 To amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to designate as a component of the National Heritage Area System the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area in the State of New York, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 3, 2025 Mrs. Gillibrand 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 Finger Lakes National Heritage Area in the State of New York, and for other purposes. 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 ``Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Act''. SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF FINGER LAKES 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) Finger lakes national heritage area.-- ``(A) In general.--There is established as a component of the National Heritage Area System the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area in the State of New York, consisting of Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates Counties, New York. ``(B) Local coordinating entity.--The Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance 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 Finger Lakes 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 Finger Lakes 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 Finger Lakes 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. <all>

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