Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Act

H.R. 938 establishes the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, covering 29 towns across northwestern Connecticut and southwestern Massachusetts. The bill creates a local management entity to coordinate a long-term plan for conserving the region's cultural, historical, and natural resources while promoting heritage tourism.

For local citizens, this designation provides federal technical and financial assistance to support community projects, such as historic preservation and the development of recreational trails, without changing local land-use laws or private property rights. The legislation specifically prohibits the management entity from using federal funds to acquire real estate, ensuring that the initiative focuses on supporting existing local organizations and regional planning efforts.