R-2006-18 establish Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area/appoint representative

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GENE GREEN ~..:Jrl~~~ll'TLt: CN t.~t:;I"~\~" 'I: ~.NU '~liii'lr\',,--~(_.t: [OlHltE5S nf thE Unitril $tatrs . I (!~l1lts.e of ~.epr.e5~l1tatiucs 1[ifaslringfun, lilQ[ 2U515-432f1 ',',i/.;-:--'-;:;:: - r~ C E ~'-:::,r.~S_ 'JEr::: ;:c,<::. -;:C C'J ::.se lJ. S.:.r.' COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT ':':..\:~~ ~:::i c-!O'.;S-:-CI":, ::.:>:t_S 77 ~if'J ;281:> S99-5279 DEMOCRATiC SENIOR DEPUTY WHIP DEMOCRATIC REGIONAL WHIP o i 1811 1~10 E~.s-; SUITE 430 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77029 1713) 330-0761 June 12, 2006 o 10 N. GAILLARD BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77520 (281) 420-0502 VvV'lW. HOUSE. GOV IGREEN 1\.m '2. () 1\i\i\l \ .. ~'\ ".,;'" The Honorable Alton E. Porter Mayor City of LaPorte 604 W. Fairmont Parkway La Porte, Texas 77571-6215 Dear Mayor Porter: I write to request your support for efforts currently underway to establish a Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area to bring national recognition to our area and its contribution to the historic and economic development of our nation. ~.~- In 2002, <Longress passed legislation I sponsored authorizing the National Park Service (NPS) to study the suitability and feasibility of establishing a Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area. - To be considered suitable as a National Heritage Area, the study area must be deemed historically, natUrally aild culturally significant on a national level. while the initial boundaries of the study area stretched from Shepard Drive in Houston to the Turning Basin, the National Park Service has determined that our area's contribution on a national level stems frorn our energy industry and the historic events that took place during the Battle of San Jacinto. With the support of the Port of Houston Authority, we have expanded the study area to include the Ship Channel and determined the theme of the proposed heritage area to be "The Energy Capitalof the World." Local government and industry support for this effort is essential, as National Heritage Areas are locally-run and require the support and coordination of local stakeholder groups to be successful. Upon the NPS' s favorable completion of the study, Iwill draft the implementing legislation with significant input from local stakeholders. The Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area: The Energy Capital of the World would be locally-managed, with federal involvement limited to techilicalandfinancial assistance. Designation would bring up to $1 million per year for ten years for heritage area activities. However, no federal land protection or additionaf federal restrictions are pr()vided by a National Heritage Area designation. Foryour reference, I have included slides from: a presentation the NPS delivered to the leadership of the Port of Houston Authority upon receiving its support for this project. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER <1')~11