Senate passes a bill on Mormon heritage

The U.S. Senate passed this week a bill to create a "National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area" along 250 miles of U.S. 89 between Fairview, Sanpete County, and the Arizona border.

Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, is sponsoring the bill that would qualify tourism-related agencies along that route for up to $10 million in grants through 2020 to help attract visitors to key sites there associated with the cultural and architectural history of early pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"The story of the Mormon pioneers is one of the most compelling in our nation's history," Bennett said. "The National Pioneer Heritage Area will serve as an appropriate recognition for their remarkable achievements over 150 years ago and also provide a great cultural opportunity for travelers along Utah's Highway 89 today."

Bennett has also passed similar legislation in the past, but it was stopped in the House. The Bush administration has also opposed new heritage areas, saying they would take away needed money from national parks.

Bennett's bill calls for the Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance — a coalition of government, economic development and heritage groups — to develop a management plan for the heritage area, which must be approved by the secretary of the interior.

Private property and land-use planning would not be affected by the designation. It would primarily be used as a label to help attract tourism and would authorize federal funding to help advertise and preserve key sites.