To direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of including Saratoga and Washington Counties in the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMs. Stefanik (for herself and Mr. Tonko) introduced the following …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a formal study to determine whether Saratoga and Washington Counties in upstate New York should be added to the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. The study would assess whether these two counties meet the criteria for inclusion in this federal heritage designation, which recognizes areas of national historical and cultural significance.
Who Benefits and How
Tourism and hospitality businesses in Saratoga and Washington Counties would benefit if the study leads to heritage area designation. National Heritage Area status brings federal marketing, signage, and promotional support that attracts tourists interested in history and culture. Historic preservation organizations and historical societies in these counties would gain access to federal technical assistance and grant opportunities for restoration projects. Local governments would receive federal support for developing heritage tourism infrastructure like interpretive centers and historic trails.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of the Interior must dedicate staff time and resources to conduct the study, including consultations with state and local preservation officers, historical societies, and tourism offices. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of the study itself, which must follow National Park Service standards for heritage area feasibility assessments. If the study leads to eventual designation, taxpayers would also fund ongoing federal support for the expanded heritage area.
Key Provisions
- Requires the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of adding Saratoga and Washington Counties to the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area
- Mandates consultation with state and local historic preservation officers, historical societies, tourism offices, and other relevant organizations
- Requires the study to follow federal standards set forth in 54 U.S.C. 120103(a) for evaluating potential National Heritage Areas
- Defines the study area specifically as Saratoga and Washington Counties in New York State
- References the existing Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area established by the 1996 Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Act
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of including Saratoga and Washington Counties in the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Expand the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area by directing a feasibility study for adding Saratoga and Washington Counties"
Likely Beneficiaries
- Tourism industry in Saratoga and Washington Counties
- Historic preservation organizations in upstate New York
- Local governments in Saratoga and Washington Counties
- National Park Service (expanded jurisdiction)
Likely Burden Bearers
- Department of the Interior (study costs)
- Federal taxpayers (funding the study and potential future designation)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
the Secretary of the Interior
the State of New York
Saratoga and Washington Counties in the State of New York
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology