A bill that has been reintroduced at the federal level by Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand would designate the Finger Lakes region as a National Heritage Area. The bill is endorsed by the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance.
National Heritage Areas (NHA) are established by Congress to “recognize a region’s natural, cultural, or historic significance.” Unlike national parks, NHAs are large, populated, lived-in areas that collaborate with communities to connect heritage with local interests and needs. The counties included in the legislation are Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates.
“The Finger Lakes Region is known for its rich, robust history and natural beauty, making it an ideal candidate to become a National Heritage Area,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “The Finger Lakes Region is a landmark of NY-24, and establishing this area as an NHA will preserve the region’s history and stories for generations to come. It’s a privilege to reintroduce this legislation, and I am eager to see our region receive the recognition it deserves.”
“Home to beautiful landscapes, rich history, and thriving small businesses, the Finger Lakes are a national treasure,” said Senator Gillibrand. “In recognition of all that this area has to offer, I’m leading the push to designate the region as a National Heritage Area. This designation will promote tourism, create jobs, conserve natural resources, and make sure local communities have what they need to thrive for years to come. I am proud to introduce this bill alongside my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and I am committed to getting it signed into law.”
The process for designating a region as a National Heritage Area usually involves two steps. First, Congress passes a bill directing the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study, which determines whether the area is suitable for being designated as an NHA. If the results of the feasibility study are positive, Congress then must pass a second bill to formally designate the region.
“We are pleased to stand with Senator Gillibrand’s office, Congresswoman Tenney’s office and all of our regional partners as the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area legislation is reintroduced into session, ” said Meghan Nulty, President & CEO of the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance. “While we were all saddened that the legislation did not reach the President’s desk last year, we stand firm in our commitment to the National Heritage Area designation for this region. The core motivation to seek a National Heritage Area designation for the Finger Lakes remains unchanged: to do tourism more responsibly and to honor the reasons our region is a landmark worthy of sharing with the world. Our industry stands on the shoulders of the Haudenosaunee, the suffragists, the abolitionists and innovators that uniquely make up the story of America and our work continues hand-in-hand with Senator Gillibrand’s office, the NY Congressional Delegation and the support of our county-level and industry partners. We thank Senator Gillibrand and all our partners across the region for their support and assistance in getting the Finger Lakes region one step closer to this designation.”
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