text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Mississippi Gulf Coast National 
  Heritage Area Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds that--
              (1) the 6-county area in southern Mississippi located on 
          the Gulf of Mexico and in the Mississippi Coastal Plain has a 
          unique identity that is shaped by--
                      (A) the coastal and riverine environment; and
                      (B) the diverse cultures that have settled in the 
                  area;
              (2) the area is rich with diverse cultural and historical 
          significance, including--
                      (A) early Native American settlements; and
                      (B) Spanish, French, and English settlements 
                  originating in the 1600s;
              (3) the area includes spectacular natural, scenic, and 
          recreational resources;
              (4) there is broad support from local governments and other 
          interested individuals for the establishment of the Mississippi 
          Gulf Coast National Heritage Area to coordinate and assist in 
          the preservation and interpretation of those resources;
              (5) the Comprehensive Resource Management Plan, coordinated 
          by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources--
                      (A) is a collaborative effort of the Federal 
                  Government and State and local governments in the area; 
                  and
                      (B) is a natural foundation on which to establish 
                  the Heritage Area; and
              (6) establishment of the Heritage Area would assist local 
          communities and residents in preserving the unique cultural, 
          historical, and natural resources of the area.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
          Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area established by 
          section 4(a).
              (2) Coordinating entity.--The term ``coordinating entity'' 
          means the coordinating entity for the Heritage Area designated 
          by section 4(c).
              (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
          the management plan for the Heritage Area developed under 
          section 5.
              (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of the Interior.
              (5) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of 
          Mississippi.
  
  SEC. 4. MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.
  
      (a) Establishment.--There is established in the State the 
  Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area.
      (b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall consist of the counties of 
  Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson in the 
  State.
      (c) Coordinating Entity.--
              (1) In general.--The Mississippi Department of Marine 
          Resources, in consultation with the Mississippi Department of 
          Archives and History, shall serve as the coordinating entity 
          for the Heritage Area.
              (2) Oversight committee.--The coordinating entity shall 
          ensure that each of the 6 counties included in the Heritage 
          Area is appropriately represented on any oversight committee.
  
  SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN.
  
      (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
  of this Act, the coordinating entity shall develop and submit to the 
  Secretary a management plan for the Heritage Area.
      (b) Requirements.--The management plan shall--
              (1) provide recommendations for the conservation, funding, 
          management, interpretation, and development of the cultural, 
          historical, archaeological, natural, and recreational resources 
          of the Heritage Area;
              (2) identify sources of funding for the Heritage Area;
              (3) include--
                      (A) an inventory of the cultural, historical, 
                  archaeological, natural, and recreational resources of 
                  the Heritage Area; and
                      (B) an analysis of ways in which Federal, State, 
                  tribal, and local programs may best be coordinated to 
                  promote the purposes of this Act;
              (4) provide recommendations for educational and 
          interpretive programs to inform the public about the resources 
          of the Heritage Area; and
              (5) involve residents of affected communities and tribal 
          and local governments.
      (c) Failure to Submit.--If a management plan is not submitted to 
  the Secretary by the date specified in subsection (a), the Secretary 
  shall not provide any additional funding under this Act until a 
  management plan for the Heritage Area is submitted to the Secretary.
      (d) Approval or Disapproval of the Management Plan.--
              (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after receipt of 
          the management plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
          approve or disapprove the management plan.
              (2) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary 
          disapproves a management plan under paragraph (1), the 
          Secretary shall--
                      (A) advise the coordinating entity in writing of 
                  the reasons for disapproval;
                      (B) make recommendations for revision of the 
                  management plan; and
                      (C) allow the coordinating entity to submit to the 
                  Secretary revisions to the management plan.
      (e) Revision.--After approval by the Secretary of the management 
  plan, the coordinating entity shall periodically--
              (1) review the management plan; and
              (2) submit to the Secretary, for review and approval by the 
          Secretary, any recommendations for revisions to the management 
          plan.
  
  SEC. 6. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF COORDINATING ENTITY.
  
      (a) Authorities.--For purposes of developing and implementing the 
  management plan and otherwise carrying out this Act, the coordinating 
  entity may make grants to and provide technical assistance to tribal 
  and local governments, and other public and private entities.
      (b) Duties.--In addition to developing the management plan under 
  section 5, in carrying out this Act, the coordinating entity shall--
              (1) implement the management plan; and
              (2) assist local and tribal governments and non-profit 
          organizations in--
                      (A) establishing and maintaining interpretive 
                  exhibits in the Heritage Area;
                      (B) developing recreational resources in the 
                  Heritage Area;
                      (C) increasing public awareness of, and 
                  appreciation for, the cultural, historical, 
                  archaeological, and natural resources of the Heritage 
                  Area;
                      (D) restoring historic structures that relate to 
                  the Heritage Area; and
                      (E) carrying out any other activity that the 
                  coordinating entity determines to be appropriate to 
                  carry out this Act, consistent with the management 
                  plan;
              (3) conduct public meetings at least annually regarding the 
          implementation of the management plan; and
              (4) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds are made 
          available under section 9--
                      (A) submit to the Secretary a report that 
                  describes, for the fiscal year, the actions of the 
                  coordinating entity in carrying out this Act;
                      (B) make available to the Secretary for audit all 
                  records relating to the expenditure of funds and any 
                  matching funds; and
                      (C) require, for all agreements authorizing the 
                  expenditure of Federal funds by any entity, that the 
                  receiving entity make available to the Secretary for 
                  audit all records relating to the expenditure of the 
                  funds.
      (c) Prohibition on Acquisition of Real Property.--The coordinating 
  entity shall not use Federal funds made available under this Act to 
  acquire real property or any interest in real property.
  
  SEC. 7. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.
  
      (a) In General.--On the request of the coordinating entity, the 
  Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance to the 
  coordinating entity for use in the development and implementation of 
  the management plan.
      (b) Prohibition of Certain Requirements.--The Secretary may not, as 
  a condition of the provision of technical or financial assistance under 
  this section, require any recipient of the assistance to impose or 
  modify any land use restriction or zoning ordinance.
  
  SEC. 8. EFFECT OF ACT.
  
      Nothing in this Act--
              (1) affects or authorizes the coordinating entity to 
          interfere with--
                      (A) the right of any person with respect to private 
                  property; or
                      (B) any local zoning ordinance or land use plan;
              (2) restricts an Indian tribe from protecting cultural or 
          religious sites on tribal land;
              (3) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes the authority of any 
          State, tribal, or local government to regulate any use of land 
          under any other law (including regulations);
              (4)(A) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes the authority of 
          the State to manage fish and wildlife in the Heritage Area, 
          including the regulation of fishing and hunting; or
              (B) authorizes the coordinating entity to assume any 
          management authorities over such lands; or
              (5) diminishes the trust responsibilities or government-to-
          government obligations of the United States to any federally 
          recognized Indian tribe.
  
  SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
  out this Act $10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be made 
  available for any fiscal year.
      (b) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The Federal share of the total cost 
  of any activity assisted under this Act shall be not more than 50 
  percent.
target: Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area Act - Establishes, in the State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, and assigns the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources to serve as the Area's coordinating entity (the entity). Directs the entity to develop and submit to the Secretary of the Interior a management plan for the Area. States elements that the plan shall contain, including recommendations for: (1) the conservation and development of the Area's resources; and (2) educational and interpretive programs.Directs the Secretary to approve or disapprove of the plan. Directs the entity to periodically review the plan and to submit amendments for approval.Allows the entity to make grants to and provide technical assistance to tribal and local governments and other public and private entities to further the development and implementation of the plan. Directs the entity to perform certain functions in carrying out this Act, including to: (1) assist local and tribal governments and non-profits in various ways; and (2) make available to the Secretary for audit all records relating to the expenditure of funds and any matching funds.Sets forth things this Act shall not do, including that it shall not restrict an Indian tribe from protecting cultural or religious sites on tribal land.
feat_title: To establish the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area in the State of Mississippi, and for other purposes.