Mar 2, 2012 2 min read

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Mark S. Critz, D-Johnstown, announced Wednesday that he is an original cosponsor of legislation introduced to reform and modernize the nation’s National Heritage Areas.

The bipartisan National Heritage Area Act of 2012, House Resolution 4099, will better ensure the long-term sustainability and savings of the Heritage Area Program, and was drafted in cooperation with the Alliance for National Heritage Areas (ANHA) and with input from the National Park Service.

HR 4099 will take a new approach to heritage areas by establishing for the first time a standardized set of criteria across the board for the designation of new heritage areas and the review of those previously authorized. Having a clearly defined structure to oversee the management of heritage areas will allow the popular public-private-partnerships to better preserve the nation’s heritage and spur economic growth.

“Heritage areas have a proven record of fostering job creation and advancing economic, cultural, historic, environmental, and community development,” said Critz, a member of the Congressional National Heritage Caucus. “The National Heritage Area Program is one of the Department of Interior’s most cost-effective initiatives, relying on a public-private partnership in which every federal dollar is matched with an average of $5.50 in other public and private funding.

“This bipartisan legislation will build upon this success by modernizing the program.”

Similar proposals to reform and modernize the program had been recommended by both the Bush and Obama administrations.