What This Bill Does
This bill would amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to create the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area in New York as a new component of the National Heritage Area System. The designated area would cover Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates Counties. It names the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance as the local coordinating entity, requires a management plan to be submitted within 3 years of enactment, and ends the Secretary of the Interior’s authority to provide assistance for the area 15 years after enactment.
- Creates the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area in New York.
- Covers 14 counties: Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates.
- Names the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance as the local coordinating entity.
- Requires a management plan to be submitted within 3 years of enactment.
- Ends the Secretary of the Interior’s authority to provide assistance after 15 years.
Who This Bill Affects
If you live in or visit the Finger Lakes region, this bill would mainly affect you through heritage tourism, preservation planning, and regional promotion rather than through direct federal benefits or costs. The biggest concrete change is that 14 New York counties would be formally designated as a National Heritage Area, with a local coordinating entity required to submit a management plan within 3 years and federal assistance authority ending after 15 years. For most people outside that region, the bill would have little to no direct effect.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisWho Supports & Opposes This
- Local tourism businesses A national heritage area designation can strengthen the region’s identity, attract visitors, and support coordinated promotion across multiple counties. Businesses that depend on tourism may see more consistent branding and longer-term planning.
- Historic preservation and cultural groups The bill gives the region a federal framework to protect and interpret its historic and cultural resources. Supporters would argue that the management plan can help local partners preserve important places without federal ownership.
- County and municipal leaders in the Finger Lakes A shared designation across 14 counties can encourage collaboration on heritage, recreation, and economic development. Local officials may see it as a way to leverage existing assets with limited federal involvement.
- Taxpayers concerned about new federal designations Opponents may argue that the federal government should not keep expanding the heritage area system, especially when the benefits are mostly regional. They may question whether the designation justifies federal administrative involvement.
- Property-rights advocates Even though the bill does not federalize land, critics may worry that heritage-area planning can increase pressure for land-use coordination and future regulation. They may prefer preservation decisions remain entirely local.
- Constituents outside the region People elsewhere may see little direct benefit from a designation limited to 14 counties in New York. They may oppose using federal authority for a geographically narrow project when national priorities are competing for attention.
Key Implications
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““There is established as a component of the National Heritage Area System””
This is the core legal change: the Finger Lakes region would become part of a federal heritage-area framework. That can help with recognition, coordination, and access to certain forms of federal support.
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““consisting of Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland… and Yates Counties””
The bill defines the exact geographic scope. Residents, local governments, and tourism partners in these 14 counties would be the ones most directly involved.
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““The Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance shall be the local coordinating entity””
This puts a specific local organization in charge of coordination rather than a federal office. In practice, that entity would help develop and carry out the management plan.
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““submit… a proposed management plan… not later than 3 years””
The bill imposes a planning deadline. That means the new heritage area would need a formal strategy relatively soon after enactment, which can shape priorities and partnerships.
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““shall terminate on the date that is 15 years after””
Federal assistance is not permanent. The sunset suggests Congress expects the area to become self-sustaining or locally managed after a defined period.
Latest Status
June 10, 2026
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
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Ask AI about this billData sourced from api.congress.gov.