Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 9, 2005

Schumer Announces Key Senate Panel Backs $400,000 For Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area

Senator Aggressively Lobbied Senate Appropriations Committee To Include Funding In Spending Bill

Schumer: The Marketing of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area for Tourism is Vitally Important for the Community and Local Economy

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $400,000 under the FY06 Interior Appropriations Act for the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. The bill must now be approved by the full Senate before being sent to a House and Senate Conference Committee and eventually being signed into law. Schumer had aggressively lobbied members of the Appropriations Committee to include funding for the project in this year’s spending bill.

“This money will do great things for Sullivan County and the entire Hudson Valley,” said Schumer. “This funding is an important step in maintaining the beauty of these communities, while also marketing the area for tourism – sure to give a boost to the economy.”

The mission of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area is to recognize, preserve, protect and interpret the nationally significant cultural and natural resources of the Hudson River Valley for the benefit of the nation. The federal funding will help to continue to highlight Heritage Sites of the Hudson River Valley through the website, and brochures interpreting these historic places. Other projects to be supported through funding include; gateway and wayfinding signage, regional marketing of the Heritage Area, education grants for local teachers and a partnership with Hudson River Valley Institute at Marist College.

Today, the Appropriations Committee included $400,000 in the Interior spending bill. The bill was passed by the Appropriations Committee today and now heads to the floor for a full vote before the Senate. A vote is expected this summer, and after final passage a conference committee will reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the Interior Appropriations Bill before sending it to the President to become law.

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