[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 133 (Wednesday, December 6, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H8855-H8856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE AND MARITIME HERITAGE ACT

  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1346) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
conduct a study of maritime sites in the State of Michigan.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1346

       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. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Michigan.

     SEC. 3. STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     State, the State Historic Preservation Officer, and other 
     appropriate State and local public agencies and private 
     organizations, shall conduct a special resource study of 
     resources related to the maritime heritage of the State.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the study is to determine--
       (1) suitable and feasible options for the long-term 
     protection of significant maritime heritage resources in the 
     State; and
       (2) the manner in which the public can best learn about and 
     experience the resources.
       (c) 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 potential for 
     interpretation and preservation of maritime heritage 
     resources in the State;
       (2) recommend management alternatives that would be most 
     effective for long-term resource protection and providing for 
     public enjoyment of maritime heritage resources;
       (3) address how to assist regional, State, and local 
     partners in increasing public awareness of and access to 
     maritime heritage resources;
       (4) identify sources of financial and technical assistance 
     available to communities for the preservation and 
     interpretation of maritime heritage resources; and
       (5) identify opportunities for the National Park Service 
     and the State to coordinate the activities of appropriate 
     units of national, State, and local parks and historic sites 
     in furthering the preservation and interpretation of maritime 
     heritage resources.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years 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 Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a 
     report that describes--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any findings and recommendations of the Secretary.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Mrs. Drake) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia.

                              {time}  1815


                             General Leave

  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1346, introduced by Senator Stabenow, is a companion 
to H.R. 3532 introduced by our colleague, Mr. Camp of Michigan. The 
bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of 
Michigan's maritime heritage resources to determine suitable and 
feasible options for their long-term protection. I urge adoption of the 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, our colleagues from the Wolverine State, including our 
Resources Committee colleague, Mr. Kildee, and the dean of the House, 
Representative John Dingell, have worked diligently to get this measure 
to the House floor today, and we applaud their efforts.
  We have no objection to S. 1346 and look forward to the results of 
the study authorizing this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp).
  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for 
yielding me this time, and I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin 
Islands for her comments on this bipartisan bill.
  I rise today in support of S. 1346, and I was proud to introduce a 
companion bill in the House.
  Michigan owes its rich maritime history to more than 3,000 miles of 
Great Lakes shoreline. As the largest freshwater body in the world, the 
Great Lakes are home to a thriving shipping industry, a passenger 
transport system, and thousands of recreational boaters. It is not 
surprising, then, that Michigan's shores carry more lighthouses than 
any other State. These lighthouses are important reminders of the 
State's maritime prominence.
  Michigan is also home to several underwater preserves and the 
country's only freshwater marine sanctuary, the Thunder Bay National 
Marine Sanctuary. Thunder Bay contains hundreds of shipwrecks preserved 
by the icy waters of Lake Huron. Each one provides a unique window into 
Michigan's maritime history.
  In addition, I am proud that my State contains many major maritime 
museums and a dozen historic ships, including a replica of a wooden 
schooner

[[Page H8856]]

in Traverse City, which served as the city's first schoolhouse.
  The Michigan Lighthouse and Maritime Heritage Act authorizes a study 
that directs the U.S. Department of the Interior on the protection and 
promotion of Michigan's maritime resources. Specifically, it requires 
the Department to determine how best to preserve these sites and 
recommend ways the public may better experience them. This effort will 
undoubtedly benefit Michigan's tourism industry and the State's 
residents, who hold maritime resources in high regard as symbols of 
their cultural past.
  I thank my colleagues who have helped move this legislation forward, 
including Mr. Pearce, chairman of the Resources Subcommittee on 
National Parks, and Senator Stabenow, the sponsor of the bill in the 
Senate.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of S. 1346, the Michigan Lighthouse and Maritime Heritage Act. I am a 
proud cosponsor of a similar bill introduced by my colleague Mr. Camp, 
H.R. 3532, and I'm glad we are taking a step today towards preserving 
the great State of Michigan's maritime heritage.
  Mr. Speaker, Michigan truly is the Great Lakes State, touched by 4 of 
the 5 Great Lakes. Helping protect ships on the Great Lakes and the 
sailors who crew them are the hundreds of lighthouses that dot the 
Lakes. The State of Michigan alone has 124 lighthouses, the most of any 
State in the union, and I am proud to have 8 of these lighthouses in my 
district, including the oldest lighthouse in Michigan, located in Fort 
Gratiot on the shores of Lake Huron. Built in 1829, this lighthouse is 
still in use, along with the South Channel Light, Pointe Aux Barques 
Light, and the Harbor Beach Light, that were all in service before 
Abraham Lincoln was President.
  In addition to having the most lighthouses of any other State, Mr. 
Speaker, Michigan was the first State to initiate a transfer of 
authority for lighthouses from the Federal Government to nonprofit 
groups. The State of Michigan accepted responsibility for lighthouses 
the Coast Guard previously had jurisdiction over, and then transferred 
authority to nonprofit groups such as Save our South Channel Lights, 
which I am proud to have located in my district. Through this process, 
the people of Michigan have been able to preserve these living 
landmarks and symbols of our nautical heritage.
  Moreover, Mr. Speaker, as Secretary of State in Michigan, I unveiled 
a ``Save our Lights'' license plate in 2001, which directed funds to 
the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program, which remains dedicated to 
preserving the 124 lighthouses dotting the Michigan shoreline and 
islands. To date, the program has raised over $900,000 through the sale 
of license plates. With this in mind, it's only fitting that the 
Federal Government begins to take a look at helping to preserve these 
treasures, and help the public learn more about them for their own 
personal enjoyment.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 1346.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the Senate 
bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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