"As the Congressman for the 18th District of Illinois, it's an honor to represent parts of Springfield and the same district that Abraham Lincoln did during his one term in Congress," said Rep. LaHood. "The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area is part of the fabric that makes up central Illinois and it is home to the unique collection of Lincoln history, offering an in-depth look at the life of our 16th president. I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort with my colleagues from Illinois, and I will continue to work in Congress to preserve the legacy of Lincoln."
"On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage and the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, I am most grateful to Congressman LaHood and the other members of the Illinois delegation for sponsoring this legislation. We are proud to continue to tell the story of the life and times of Abraham Lincoln in Illinois to promote heritage tourism as an economic driver to the communities we work with. Many of the communities are small and lacking resources. I give the example of one community that saw a 47% increase in local sales tax revenues during tourist season. In addition, the Federal funds we received are matched a minimum of one-to-one at the local level. The Federal dollars help create public-private partnerships that stimulate the local economy." said Sarah Watson, executive director, the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage and Looking for Lincoln.
The ALNHA was designated by Congress in 2008 and works in partnership with the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Looking for Lincoln acts as the coordinating entity for the 43-county heritage area and partners with communities, organizations, and individuals dedicated to enhancing the communities and landscapes of central Illinois through recognition and support of their significant natural, cultural and historical legacies.
Illinois Representatives Rodney Davis (IL-13), Cheri Bustos (IL-17) Sean Casten (IL-6), Mike Bost (IL-12), Mike Quigley (IL-5), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8), Robin Kelly (IL-2), Bill Foster (IL-11), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Booby Rush (IL-1), and Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) are original cosponsors of the bill.
Learn more about the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area here.
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