Rep. Claudia Tenney and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand have reintroduced legislation in the House and Senate that would designate the Finger Lakes Region as a National Heritage Area.

If it does pass, the bipartisan Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Act would provide funding to preserve the area's natural and historic resources in hopes of boosting recreation and economic development.

“The Finger Lakes Region is known for its rich, robust history and natural beauty, making it an ideal candidate to become a National Heritage Area,” Tenney said in a statement. “The Finger Lakes Region is a landmark of NY-24, and establishing this area as an NHA will preserve the region’s history and stories for generations to come. It’s a privilege to reintroduce this legislation, and I am eager to see our region receive the recognition it deserves.”

“Home to beautiful landscapes, rich history, and thriving small businesses, the Finger Lakes are a national treasure,” Gillibrand said in a statement. “In recognition of all that this area has to offer, I’m leading the push to designate the region as a National Heritage Area. This designation will promote tourism, create jobs, conserve natural resources, and make sure local communities have what they need to thrive for years to come. I am proud to introduce this bill alongside my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and I am committed to getting it signed into law.”

National Heritage Areas are established by Congress to recognize a region’s natural, cultural or historic significance.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has pushed for the passage of the act in the Senate, while Tenney previously introduced the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Act in the House in 2023. 

Officials say a feasibility study was completed in 2023 by the National Park Service, which was the first of two necessary parts of the process to designate the region as a NHA. Congress must now pass a second bill to formally designate the region.

Fourteen counties would make up the Finger Lakes NHA: Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne and Yates.