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WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Paul D. Tonko cheered the passage of legislation he led, H.R. 4192, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission Reauthorization Act to reauthorize the Commission for 15 years as part of the bipartisan omnibus spending package advanced through Congress and expected to be signed into law by the President today. This reauthorization will ensure that this staple of the Capital Region’s history will remain an economic driver for years to come.

“For nearly two centuries, our Erie Canalway has been a key part of our region’s history and heritage as well as a vital economic resource, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to Upstate New York each year,” Congressman Tonko said. “I’ve fought for years to reauthorize and maintain this commission that helps sustain our Capital Region communities, and I’m proud to see this provision passed as part of our landmark funding package. Reauthorization will ensure that our Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission remains on sound financial footing, and will deliver the resources necessary to ensure our precious waterway can be enjoyed by Capital Region residents and visitors for generations to come. I look forward to seeing this package enacted at once, so we can deliver this much-needed support to our communities as soon as possible.”

“Thanks to Congressman Tonko's tireless efforts, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is able to continue its work promoting our legendary NYS Canal System as a world-class tourism destination and fostering vibrant communities connected by our waterways,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “We appreciate the strong support for national heritage areas from the entire upstate New York congressional delegation.”

In addition to extending the Erie Canalway Commission, the federal spending bill also:

• Ensures dozens of National Heritage Areas, including the Capital Region’s Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and Commission and the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area will continue to receive federal funding and support through 2023.
• Delivers $84 million for national recreation and preservation, including $27 million for the Heritage Partnership Program to National Heritage Areas.
• Secures $173 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, including $28 million for competitive grants to preserve the sites and stories of underrepresented community civil rights and $10 million for grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Congressman Tonko, who serves as co-chair of the National Heritage Area Caucus, has long fought to secure the future of our National Heritage Areas. Last year, Tonko advanced his National Heritage Areas Act through the House to establish standard criteria for designating new NHAs, create a rigorous process for maintaining existing NHAs, and modernize and streamline the NHA program to allow for long-term sustainability for the nation’s 55 National Heritage Areas.

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