North Carolina Republicans unveil bill to extend funding for Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) on March 10 introduced legislation that would reauthorize federal funding for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA), a federally designated National Heritage Area encompassing the 25 westernmost counties of North Carolina associated with the Blue Ridge Mountains and the regional steward of living Appalachian traditions in North Carolina.

“The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area is not only a stunning part of the country and culturally important, it is also a critical component of our state’s economy,” Sen. Burr said. “It is vital that Congress take steps to preserve the rich history of this area to ensure visitors can continue to enjoy all that western North Carolina has to offer for years to come.” 

Sen. Burr sponsored the BRNHA Reauthorization Act, S. 654, with original cosponsor Sen. Tillis to extend authorized federal funding of the BRNHA through 2036.

“The Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains were the most-visited national parks in 2020, seeing more than 12 million visitors,” said Sen. Tillis, noting that the BRNHA is important to the western North Carolina tourism industry.

“We are so lucky to have this beautiful land in our great state, and I am proud to have worked with Senator Burr on this important legislation to extend this program to continue to preserve and develop the unique culture of western North Carolina,” Sen. Tillis added.

The BRNHA was created by Congress in 2003, currently supports more than 30,000 jobs, and has an annual total economic impact of $2.39 billion, according to information provided by the lawmakers.

The senators in 2017 introduced legislation to extend the BRNHA authorization through 2021, according to their offices. A reintroduced version of the bill was included in the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, which was signed into law in March 2019. The new S. 654 would extend BRNHA’s authorization for another 15 years.