Raúl Grijalva: “I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. JACKSON, LEE. Madam…”

“I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. JACKSON, LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2899, ``To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating areas within the island of Guam as a National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.'' Different from national parks, national heritage areas are community- based efforts that preserve and share stories about a region's history and character. Heritage areas contain a mixture of public and private property, including towns, historic sites, parks, trails, commercial districts, and even working farms. National Heritage Areas are a grassroots, community-driven approach to heritage conservation and economic development. Through public- private partnerships, NHA entities support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, and educational projects. Leveraging funds and long-term support for projects, NHA partnerships foster pride of place and an enduring stewardship ethic. When an area is designated as an NHA, its inhabitants don't have to leave. An important aspect of NHAs is that they are intended as a celebration of a living environment, and they improve the local economy around them.…”