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Laredo, TX—Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) introduced legislation, H.R. 6499, that would authorize a study by the Department of Interior needed to designate the Los Caminos del Rio region as a National Heritage Area (NHA). The 200 mile Rio Grande region would join 55 other national heritage landmarks and become the first area in Texas to bear the national heritage designation.

“Los Caminos del Rio Region is one of the most ecologically diverse areas in North America with a flourishing blend of history and culture,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Recognizing the region as a National Heritage Area will boost our local economy and preserve this South Texas landmark for future generations. I am committed to championing economic development and Rio Grande Valley cultural heritage by conserving our historic and natural areas in South Texas. I want to thank Congressman Gonzalez for his support in the efforts to protect the Los Caminos del Rio Region.”

“Present day Mexico, Texas and Louisiana, would not be what they are without the El Camino Real de los Tejas,” said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez. “We need to designate this trail and sites along it as national heritage sites to preserve this timeless history. I fully support the Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Corridor bill and hope that other lawmakers will see its national significance.”

The designated area would stretch along the border, expanding beyond the river, to include five Texas counties (Webb, Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, and Cameron). It includes the environmentally significant region known as the “Tampaulipan brushland,” which boasts one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the United States. To see a map of the corridor, click here.

The corridor showcases the legacies of early colonial Spanish settlements, military conflicts, trade and agriculture, depicting a story of regional and national importance. For example, the corridor includes remnant sabal palm grove forests can give a sense of the landscape as it was seen by early Spanish explorers in 1520 as well as military forts and battlefields related to the Mexican-American and U.S. Civil Wars.

The U.S./Mexico “border” itself is a significant landscape feature, creating a distinct identity. Tejano festivals, interchange of Spanish and English languages, Tex-Mex cuisine, bullfighting, religious practices, Mariachi music, charreadas (Mexican-style rodeo), and traditional dress forge a culture distinct to the region.

Congressman Cuellar has been working since 2009 to designate the Los Caminos del Rio Region as a National Heritage Area. In the 111th Congress, he submitted similar legislation, H.R. 2167, which would have authorized the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain lands as the Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Corridor.

National Heritage Area (NHAs) are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape. NHAs leverage federal funds (NHAs average $5.50 for every $1.00 of federal investment) to create jobs, generate revenue for local governments, and sustain local communities through revitalization and heritage tourism. These areas also connect communities to natural, historic, and cultural sites through educational activities and volunteer opportunities, promoting stewardship and community pride.  

To read more about the Los Caminos del Rio National Heritage Corridor, click here.