U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell announced that her bill, H.R. 3222, the Black Belt National Heritage Area Act, passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 365-57. The bill was introduced by Sewell in May 2021 and aims to designate areas within the 19 counties in Alabama’s Black Belt as a National Heritage Area. Through public-private partnerships, National Heritage Areas are able to leverage funding for long-term projects that have substantial economic and environmental benefits. The bill will now make its way to the U.S. Senate.
“I’m thrilled to announce that the House has passed my bill to create the Black Belt National Heritage Area!” commented Sewell. “As the birthplace of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights movements, the Black Belt is where some of the most consequential chapters of American history played out. This designation will not only help preserve the rich history of the region, but will also open up new economic and tourism opportunities. As a proud daughter of the Black Belt, I thank my colleagues for passing this critical bill and will continue working to get it signed into law.”
According to Sewell’s press release, National Heritage Areas are established by Congress to help with efforts to protect and promote communities that are regarded as distinctive because of their culture, history, resources, and environment. These historic areas are authorized to receive up to $1 million in federal funding annually to preserve, protect and promote important sites. Under the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area Act, the University of West Alabama would collaborate with the National Park Service and Black Belt communities to determine a strategic management plan.
Dr. Tina Naremore Jones, Vice President of the Division of Economics Workforce Development at the University of West Alabama, explained how the funding would help tell the stories of Alabama’s Black Belt.
“The story of Alabama’s Black Belt could not be more relevant with ongoing conversations exploring the multifaceted aspects of our country’s past, present, and future. For Alabama’s Black Belt with its famously rich soils and landscapes have had a profound impact on the culture, history, and politics of this country,” Naremore Jones commented. “Through designation as a National Heritage Area, we can shine a spotlight on these stories and bring them to prominence and ensure that future generations cannot only learn but appreciate our shared heritage. Designation is also important in that it helps us continue to build local capacity through shared resources. Our grassroots organizations have been steadfast supporters of this effort, and we are thankful for Congresswoman Sewell and Senator Shelby’s leadership in moving this legislation forward.”
Emily Jones, Southeast Regional Director for The National Parks Conservation Association, thanked Congressman Sewell and Senator Richard Shelby for their efforts. “By calling for an Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area, Congresswoman Terri Sewell and Senator Richard Shelby have taken a stand for centuries of rich Alabama history and breathtaking Southern lands and waters, including the last remaining prairie east of the Mississippi River,” stated Jones. “The Alabama Black Belt was named for its soil, but this region has also served as fertile ground for Black history and the Civil Rights Movement. Civil rights leaders like John Lewis put blood, sweat, and tears into their work to organize and register Black voters here in the 1960s. Now more than ever, it’s imperative that we honor their contributions to the ongoing fight for the American right to vote.”
Jones continued, “This new National Heritage Area would help local organizations work to protect Alabama history and natural resources and generate economic growth in the Black Belt region. A new designation would help raise the profile of the beautiful Talladega and Tuskegee National Forests, the Cahaba, Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers, and the Choctaw and Cahaba National Wildlife Refuges, as well as tell important stories of civil rights activism and the forced removal of Native tribes from this land.”
