San Antonio Express-News: Letter to the Editor: Missions for Future

May 13, 2015

by: U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett

The recommendation by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, or ICOMOS, that the San Antonio missions be designated as a collective World Heritage Site is truly “monumental.”

It reflects years of dedicated effort by so many. Our recent expansion of the missions park has advanced this effort. After years of work, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is expanding by 137 acres because of a bill I sponsored, signed into law by President Barack Obama in December. The land is being acquired through donations and cooperative agreements with no additional cost to taxpayers.

But we are not there yet. Work remains to ensure the missions receive this important designation. All of our local Congress members are joining to seek support from the ambassador of each country on UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, meeting in Bonn, Germany, this summer.

That final approval will give us even more to celebrate. This designation is about both cultural preservation and job expansion through increased tourist dollars, as more folks from around the world are drawn to what makes San Antonio unique.

An economic study found that a World Heritage designation for the missions could significantly boost economic growth — helping yield $502 million annually for the San Antonio area within a decade. It’s not just about preserving the past, it’s about building our future.

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