FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

SEC. 272. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.(a) Findings.—Congress finds the following:(1) The upper Housatonic Valley, encompassing 29 towns in the hilly terrain of western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut, is a singular geographical and cultural region that has made significant national contributions through its literary, artistic, musical, and architectural achievements, its iron, paper, and electrical equipment industries, and its scenic beautification and environmental conservation efforts.(2) The upper Housatonic Valley has 139 properties and historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including—(A) five National Historic Landmarks—(i) Edith Wharton’s home, The Mount, Lenox, Massachusetts;(ii) Herman Melville’s home, Arrowhead, Pittsfield, Massachusetts;(iii) W.E.B. DuBois’ Boyhood Homesite, Great Barrington, Massachusetts;(iv) Mission House, Stockbridge, Massachusetts; and(v) Crane and Company Old Stone Mill Rag Room, Dalton, Massachusetts; and(B) four National Natural Landmarks—(i) Bartholomew’s Cobble, Sheffield, Massachusetts, and Salisbury, Connecticut;(ii) Beckley Bog, Norfolk, Connecticut;(iii) Bingham Bog, Salisbury, Connecticut; and(iv) Cathedral Pines, Cornwall, Connecticut.(3) Writers, artists, musicians, and vacationers have visited the region for more than 150 years to enjoy its scenic wonders, making it one of the country’s leading cultural resorts.(4) The upper Housatonic Valley has made significant national cultural contributions through such writers as Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edith Wharton, and W.E.B. 120 STAT. 1814 DuBois, artists Daniel Chester French and Norman Rockwell, and the performing arts centers of Tanglewood, Music Mountain, Norfolk (Connecticut) Chamber Music Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, and Shakespeare & Company.(5) The upper Housatonic Valley is noted for its pioneering achievements in the iron, paper, and electrical generation industries and has cultural resources to interpret those industries.(6) The region became a national leader in scenic beautification and environmental conservation efforts following the era of industrialization and deforestation and maintains a fabric of significant conservation areas including the meandering Housatonic River.(7) Important historical events related to the American Revolution, Shays’ Rebellion, and early civil rights took place in the upper Housatonic Valley.(8) The region had an American Indian presence going back 10,000 years and Mohicans had a formative role in contact with Europeans during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.(9) The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area has been proposed in order to heighten appreciation of the region, preserve its natural and historical resources, and improve the quality of life and economy of the area.(b) Purposes.—The purposes of this subtitle are as follows:(1) To establish the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area in the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.(2) To implement the national heritage area alternative as described in the document entitled “Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Feasibility Study, 2003”.(3) To provide a management framework to foster a close working relationship with all levels of government, the private sector, and the local communities in the upper Housatonic Valley region to conserve the region’s heritage while continuing to pursue compatible economic opportunities.(4) To assist communities, organizations, and citizens in the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in identifying, preserving, interpreting, and developing the historical, cultural, scenic, and natural resources of the region for the educational and inspirational benefit of current and future generations.