Hughesville, MD, July 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On July 19, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2024, the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Act, a major milestone for the pursuit of the region to be recognized as the 56th National Heritage Area in the United States. The legislation asks Congress to make an official designation that will help bring federal, state, and private resources together to conserve Southern Maryland’s natural landscapes, boost tourism to sustain the local economy, and recognize the historic significance of the Southern Maryland region at a national level.
In a statement on the passage of the act, Majority Leader Hoyer emphasized the importance of Southern Maryland in American heritage. “Throughout our history, Southern Maryland has been the site of important milestones for our nation, from the first colony founded on religious freedom to the first person of African descent elected to an American legislature, from the first woman to petition for equal suffrage to the heroic efforts by those bringing the enslaved to freedom on the Underground Railroad. We have so much to preserve and share with our fellow Americans in Southern Maryland.”
The pursuit is spearheaded by the executive director and the national heritage area steering committee and includes the support of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland and the Rural Maryland Council. The initiative is backed in the House by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD)…
