[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL MARITIME HERITAGE PROGRAM

  Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 3059, the National 
Marine Heritage Program, received from the House and at the desk, that 
the bill be read three times, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, that any statements relating thereto appear in the 
Record at the appropriate place as if read.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection to the several 
requests? Hearing no objection, the requests are agreed to.
   The bill (H.R. 3059) was ordered to a third reading, was read the 
third time, and passed.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. President, I rise today to ask for the Senate's 
support for a House passed measure, H.R. 3059, the National Maritime 
Heritage Act. I introduced a similar measure, S. 1727, last November.
  This measure seeks to protect and preserve America's maritime 
interests through competitive grants. This program will use some of the 
proceeds from scrapping obsolete vessels of the National Defense 
Reserve Fleet [NDRF].
  Our Nation's lighthouses, museums, sea-going vessels and maritime 
legacies that are so important to our heritage, are rapidly 
disintegrating. The Nation's traditional maritime skills are 
diminishing at an alarming rate and public awareness of our maritime 
history and future has weakened. The National Maritime Heritage Act 
will prevent further deterioration of America's maritime legacy and 
restore our precious monuments to a bygone era.
  Once the country's maritime connection to the past is lost, an entire 
culture of the foundation of our country is gone forever. We cannot 
recreate the steamer Belle of Louisville, the Battleship South Dakota 
Museum, the Louisiana Naval War Memorial or the Wooden Boats of 
Seattle. We must accept our responsibility to preserve our Nation's 
maritime history.
  The National Maritime Heritage Act seeks to educate our country 
within the maritime schools, by making learning tools available, 
publicizing the maritime interests across the country, and educating 
the Nation on the many maritime career opportunities, we can restore 
our maritime history.
  The National Maritime Heritage Act establishes a grants program for 
which all maritime interests may apply. The applicant must hold 
matching funds to the requested grant. This grants program is funded by 
using 25 percent of the proceeds from scrapped obsolete vessels of the 
NDRF. The Merchant Marine Academies will receive 25 percent for 
training projects and 50 percent will be returned directly to the 
Maritime Administration for the upkeep of the NDRF.
  A National Maritime Grants Committee will be chaired by the Secretary 
of the Interior, with a regionally balanced advisory committee composed 
of 13 members of the maritime community. Additionally, a board of 
advisors will be convened, with members from the National Park Service, 
Maritime Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration and the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation.
  Interested Federal agencies support this measure. There is no known 
opposition to this legislation. It enjoys the support of 22 cosponsors, 
and most importantly, has the full support of the Committee on 
Commerce, and has cleared both sides of the aisle.
  Mr. President, I urge the adoption of the National Maritime Heritage 
Act and ask unanimous consent that this measure be accepted.

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