MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2006 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Dawkins, Gollott, Cuevas, Hewes, Morgan, Albritton, Lee (47th), Moffatt, Robertson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA AND COMMENDING CONGRESS AND THE EFFORTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES IN SECURING ITS DESIGNATION AND GUIDING ITS DEVELOPMENT.
WHEREAS, National Heritage Areas are places where natural, cultural, historic and scenic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Gulf Coast has been recognized as being a culturally, historically and environmentally distinctive region; and
WHEREAS, the heritage of areas, such as the Mississippi Gulf Coast, are threatened by high rates of development and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina; and
WHEREAS, the designation as a National Heritage Area helps make communities more livable and economically viable through Strengthening the Sense of Heritage Identity, Conserving the Area's Heritage Resources and Developing, Promoting, and Marketing the National Heritage Area; and
WHEREAS, the staff of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' Comprehensive Resource Management Planning Program began efforts to have the southern six counties of the State of Mississippi designated as a national heritage area in 2001 to help improve the connectivity of the heritage of the area and provided proponents essential data and information to secure the enabling legislation for the heritage area; and
WHEREAS, through the dedicated efforts of the Mississippi congressional delegation, Senator Trent Lott, Senator Thad Cochran, Congressman Gene Taylor, Congressman Charles Pickering, Congressman Bennie Thompson and Congressman Roger Wicker, the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area Act passed in the 109th Congress in 2004 and was signed into law by President George Bush on December 8, 2004 (P.L. 108-447), designating the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area is the 24th of only 26 designated heritage areas in the country; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area consists of the southern six counties of the State of Mississippi, those being Pearl River County, Stone County, George County, Hancock County, Harrison County and Jackson County, an area that shares a rich history of related natural forest, waterway and marine resources, important and interesting archaeological sites and enjoyable scenic resources; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area Act designates the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources as the coordinating entity for the heritage area and the staff of the Comprehensive Resource Management Planning Program manages the area; and
WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi is rich with other areas worthy of the National Heritage Area designation and the areas are in need of the educational, conservation and promotional benefits of the heritage area program; and
WHEREAS, the staff of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' Comprehensive Resource Management Planning Program has demonstrated outstanding success in developing the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area and has demonstrated the willingness and ability to help develop heritage areas in several other areas in the state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we recognize and commend Mississippi's congressional delegation and the staff of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' Comprehensive Resource Management Planning Program for their efforts in securing the designation of the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we recognize and commend the staff of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' Comprehensive Resource Management Planning Program for guiding the development of other heritage area initiatives in the state, and encourage the staff to continue its efforts.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the members of Mississippi's congressional delegation and to the members of the staff of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resource, and be made available to Capitol Press Corps.