[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEVIN (for himself and Ms. Stabenow):
  S. 3555. A bill to establish a pilot program to provide for the 
preservation and rehabilitation of historic lighthouses; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3555

       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 ``National Lighthouse 
     Stewardship Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. FUNDING FOR HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE PRESERVATION.

       Title III of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 
     U.S.C. 470w et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 310. NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE STEWARDSHIP PILOT PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
     State, unit of local government, or nonprofit organization 
     that--
       ``(A) provides financial assistance and grants to local 
     governmental units and nonprofit organizations to preserve 
     and maintain historic lighthouse structures;
       ``(B) owns a lighthouse that is listed or eligible for 
     listing on the National Register; or
       ``(C) has a right to maintain and rehabilitate a lighthouse 
     described in subparagraph (B) that is owned by the Federal 
     Government.
       ``(2) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the National Lighthouse 
     Stewardship Fund established by subsection (c)(1).
       ``(b) Lighthouse Stewardship Pilot Program.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a 3-year 
     pilot program under which the Secretary shall use amounts 
     made available under subsection (c)(3) to provide grants to 
     eligible entities to preserve and rehabilitate historic 
     lighthouse structures.
       ``(2) Distribution to eligible entities.--
       ``(A) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this 
     subsection, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 
     an application at such time, in such form and manner, and 
     including such information as the Secretary may require.
       ``(B) Approval or disapproval.--Based on criteria 
     established by the Secretary, the Secretary shall approve or 
     disapprove an application submitted under subparagraph (A).
       ``(C) Availability of grant funds.--
       ``(i) In general.--On approval of an application under 
     subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall make the grant funds 
     available to the eligible entity.
       ``(ii) Use of existing funds.--To the maximum extent 
     practicable, the Secretary shall provide funding through 
     existing lighthouse grant programs administered by State 
     governments.
       ``(c) National Lighthouse Stewardship Fund.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury 
     of the United States a fund, to be known as the `National 
     Lighthouse Stewardship Fund', consisting of such amounts as 
     are appropriated to the Fund under paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Transfers to fund.--There are appropriated to the 
     Fund, out of funds of the Treasury not otherwise 
     appropriated, amounts equivalent to amounts collected as 
     taxes and received in the Treasury under section 60301 of 
     title 46, United States Code, but not more than $20,000,000 
     for any 1 fiscal year.
       ``(3) Use of fund.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     transfer amounts deposited in the Fund for each fiscal year 
     to the Secretary to provide grants to eligible entities in 
     States based on the ratio that--
       ``(A) the total number of lighthouses in the State; bears 
     to
       ``(B) the total number of lighthouses in the Inventory of 
     Historic Light Stations prepared by the Secretary.
       ``(4) Availability.--Amounts in the Fund shall remain 
     available until expended, without fiscal year limitation.''.
                                 ______