FINDINGS.

SEC. 1101. FINDINGS. (a) The Congress finds that— (1) in 1988, Congress enacted Public Law 100–460, establishing the Lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission, to assess the needs, problems, and opportunities of people living in the Lower Mississippi Delta Region that includes 219 counties and parishes within the States of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee; (2) the Commission conducted a thorough investigation to assess these needs, problems, and opportunities, and held several public hearings throughout the Delta Region; (3) on the basis of these investigations, the Commission issued the Delta Initiatives Report, which included recommendations on natural resource protection, historic preservation, and the enhancement of educational and other opportunities for Delta residents; (4) the Delta Initiatives Report recommended— (A) designating the Great River Road as a scenic byway, and designating other hiking and motorized trails throughout the Delta Region; (B) that the Federal Government identify sites and structures of historic and prehistoric importance through-out the Delta Region; (C) the further study of potential new units of the National Park System within the Delta Region; and (D) that Federal agencies target more monies in selected areas to institutions of higher education in the Delta Region, especially Historically Black Colleges and Universities.