Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area Act Passes After Delay of Over a Decade

In a bi-partisan showing, a bill designating 19 counties of Alabama’s Black Belt will become a National Heritage Area once signed by President Joe Biden—after the legislation was first introduced in 2009 by Alabama’s Republican Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions and in the House by Democrat Rep. Arthur Davis.
It was introduced in the House many times after the 111th Congress and now successfully by Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) and again in the Senate by Shelby and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R.-Ala.)
“Designating Alabama’s Black Belt region as a National Heritage Area will not only help generate tourism and economic activity in the area, but it will also give the public a greater understanding of the natural, historical, and cultural assets our state has to offer,” said Shelby in a statement. “This legislation has the potential to impact several future generations and is an important step toward promoting and preserving the diverse resources that exist throughout the Black Belt’s 19 counties.”…}