HR 2895119th CongressIn Committee

Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act

Introduced: Apr 10, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to study whether adding Saratoga and Washington Counties in New York to the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (NHA) is suitable and feasible. The study must assess potential designations in accordance with the federal process for National Heritage Areas and involve consultation with state and local preservation officials, historical organizations, tourism offices, and other relevant partners. The bill does not itself designate or fund the expansion; it only directs a study that could lead to future legislative action to add these counties to the existing NHA if the study finds it appropriate.

Key Points

1Short title: The act would be known as the “Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act.”
2Study objective: Directs the Secretary of the Interior to evaluate the suitability and feasibility of including Saratoga and Washington Counties in the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.
3Defined study area: Saratoga County and Washington County, New York.
4Collaboration requirement: The Secretary must consult with state and local historic preservation officers, historical societies, tourism offices, and other appropriate organizations and agencies.
5Process reference: The study must be conducted in accordance with the designation process outlined in 54 U.S.C. 320101 and related provisions for National Heritage Areas.
6Funding and designation: The bill does not authorize funding or automatic designation; any expansion would require additional congressional action based on the study’s findings.

Impact Areas

Primary: Residents, local governments, and cultural/historical organizations in Saratoga and Washington Counties; New York State preservation and tourism communities.Secondary: The existing Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area program, its management structures, and potential partners in the region; New York’s statewide historic preservation infrastructure.Additional impacts: If the study supports designation, potential outcomes include enhanced federal support for preservation, heritage interpretation, tourism development, and collaborative projects; could influence land-use planning, economic development, and community engagement around historic and cultural resources.

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