Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Act

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 12.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 80 · Reported to Senate without amendment · Feb 16, 2005

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Act - (Sec. 3) Establishes the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area in Louisiana.

Designates the Atchafalaya Trace Commission as the local coordinating entity (the entity) of the Heritage Area.

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(Sec. 4) Prohibits the use of Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property.

(Sec. 5) Requires the Commission to develop and implement a management plan, subject to the Secretary of the Interior's approval, that incorporates an integrated and cooperative approach to protect, interpret, and enhance the resources of the Heritage Area.

(Sec. 6) Establishes a procedure for the voluntary inclusion of private property in the Heritage Area.

(Sec. 7) Sets forth private property protections.

(Sec. 8) Declares the effect of this Act with regard to certain authorities and powers.

(Sec. 9) Requires the entity to report to the Secretary concerning its expenditures for any year Federal funds are made available under this Act.

(Sec. 10) Authorizes appropriations. Limits: (1) the availability of funds for any fiscal year to $1,000,000; and (2) the Federal share of the total cost of any activity assisted under this Act to 50 percent.

(Sec. 11) Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide assistance to the entity 15 years after enactment.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA] · D–LA

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 16, 2005
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 12.
Feb 16, 2005
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Domenici without amendment. With written report No. 109-5.
Feb 16, 2005
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Domenici without amendment. With written report No. 109-5.
Feb 9, 2005
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jan 31, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S651-652)
Jan 31, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S649-651)
Jan 31, 2005
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Reported to Senate · Feb 16, 2005 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Introduced in Senate · Jan 31, 2005 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 203 · National Heritage Areas Act of 2006

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.204 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.204, 109th Congress: Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/204

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2005-02-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s204/BILLS-109s204rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.204 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.204 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.204, 109th Congress: Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/204

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2005-02-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s204/BILLS-109s204rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.204 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.204 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.204, 109th Congress: Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/204

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2005-02-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s204/BILLS-109s204rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.204 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.204 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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Discuss S.204, 109th Congress: Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/204

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2005-02-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s204/BILLS-109s204rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.204 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.