[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1346 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1346
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of maritime
sites in the State of Michigan.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 30, 2005
Ms. Stabenow (for herself and Mr. Levin) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of maritime
sites in the State of Michigan.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Michigan Lighthouse and Maritime
Heritage Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) surrounded by the Great Lakes, the State of Michigan
gives the Midwest region a unique maritime character;
(2) the access of the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean
has--
(A) given the shipping industry in the State of
Michigan an international role in trade; and
(B) contributed to industrial and natural resource
development in the State;
(3) the State of Michigan offers unequaled opportunities
for maritime heritage preservation and interpretation, based on
the fact that the State has--
(A) more deepwater shoreline than any other State
in the continental United States;
(B) more lighthouses than any other State; and
(C) the only freshwater national marine sanctuary
in the United States;
(4) the maritime history of the State of Michigan includes
the history of--
(A) the routes and gathering places of the fur
traders and missionaries who opened North America to
European settlement; and
(B) the summer communities of people who mined
copper, hunted and fished, and created the first
agricultural settlements in the State;
(5) in the 19th century, the natural resources and maritime
access of the State made the State the leading producer of
iron, copper, and lumber in the United States; and
(6) the maritime heritage of Michigan is evident in--
(A) the more than 120 lighthouses in the State;
(B) the lifesaving stations, dry docks, lightships,
submarine, ore docks, piers, breakwaters, sailing
clubs, and communities and industries that were built
on the lakes in the State;
(C) the hotels and resort communities in the State;
(D) the more than 12 maritime-related national
landmarks in the State;
(E) the 2 national lakeshores in the State;
(F) the 2 units of the National Park System in the
State;
(G) the various State parks and sites listed on the
National Register of Historic Places in the State;
(H) the database information in the State on--
(i) 1,500 shipwrecks;
(ii) 11 underwater preserves; and
(iii) the freshwater national marine
sanctuary; and
(I) the Great Lakes, which have played an important
role--
(i) for Native Americans, fur traders,
missionaries, settlers, and travelers;
(ii) in the distribution of wheat, iron,
copper, and lumber;
(iii) providing recreational opportunities;
and
(iv) stories of shipwrecks and rescues.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Maritime heritage resource.--The term ``maritime
heritage resource'' includes lighthouses, lifesaving and coast
guard stations, maritime museums, historic ships and boats,
marine sanctuaries and preserves, fisheries and hatcheries,
locks and ports, ore docks, piers and breakwaters, marinas,
resort communities (such as Bay View and Epworth Heights),
cruises, performing artists that specialize in maritime
culture, interpretive and educational programs and events,
museums with significant maritime collections, maritime art
galleries, maritime communities, and maritime festivals.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service
Midwest Regional Office.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Michigan.
(4) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means the State of
Michigan.
SEC. 4. STUDY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the State, the
State historic preservation officer, local historical societies, State
and local economic development, tourism, and parks and recreation
offices, and other appropriate agencies and organizations, shall
conduct a special resource study of the study area to determine--
(1) the potential economic and tourism benefits of
preserving State maritime heritage resources;
(2) suitable and feasible options for long-term protection
of significant State maritime heritage resources; and
(3) the manner in which the public can best learn about and
experience State maritime heritage resources.
(b) Requirements.--In conducting the study under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall--
(1) review Federal, State, and local maritime resource
inventories and studies to establish the context, breadth, and
potential for interpretation and preservation of State maritime
heritage resources;
(2) examine the potential economic and tourism impacts of
protecting State maritime heritage resources;
(3) recommend management alternatives that would be most
effective for long-term resource protection and providing for
public enjoyment of State maritime heritage resources;
(4) address how to assist regional, State, and local
partners in efforts to increase public awareness of and access
to the State maritime heritage resources;
(5) identify sources of financial and technical assistance
available to communities for the conservation and
interpretation of State maritime heritage resources; and
(6) address ways in which to link appropriate national
parks, State parks, waterways, monuments, parkways,
communities, national and State historic sites, and regional or
local heritage areas and sites into a Michigan Maritime
Heritage Destination Network.
(c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date on which funds
are made available to carry out the study under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of
the Senate a report that describes--
(1) the results of the study; and
(2) any findings and recommendations of the Secretary.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$500,000.
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