Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) sponsored S. 1942, the National Heritage Area Act to establish a National Heritage Area System, which would allow for the Department of the Interior to provide technical and financial assistance to local coordinating entities to support the establishment, development, and continuity of such areas. Heritage areas are landscapes where natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources combine to form cohesive stories and themes that are regionally distinct and nationally significant. This bill also designated seven new heritage areas, including the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area, and authorized new studies on potential sites such as the Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area championed by the late Representative A. Donald McEachin. On December 22, 2022, the House approved S. 1942 by a vote of 326-95 (House roll call vote 540). YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. The president signed S. 1942 into law on January 5, 2023.