[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 173 (Friday, December 2, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              GREAT LAKES MARITIME HERITAGE ASSESSMENT ACT

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 2, 2016

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Great Lakes 
Maritime Heritage Assessment Act, an important bill to promote and 
preserve the sunken treasures of the Great Lakes.
  The Great Lakes have an amazing naval history which is unknown and 
unseen by too many Americans. Steamboats on the Great Lakes provided a 
route west for immigrants as they settled what was then called the 
Northwest Territory. As cities grew, Great Lakes ships and barges 
carried the timber, coal, and ore that fueled America's industrial 
might.
  As commerce increased, so too did the number of ships which succumbed 
to the unpredictable and sometimes foreboding weather on the Lakes. 
Today, thousands of shipwrecks are scattered across the floor of the 
Great Lakes, including the remains of one of America's first great 
naval victories, the Battle of Lake Erie.
  Despite this amazing heritage, only one marine sanctuary exists in 
the Great Lakes. The Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary, located in Lake 
Huron off the coast of Alpena, Michigan, has been a major economic 
driver for the area, spurring tourism, research, and educational 
opportunities.
  This bill builds on the success of Thunder Bay by setting the stage 
to establish additional sanctuaries across the Great Lakes. It directs 
the Administrator of NOAA to identify underwater areas throughout the 
Lakes that possess significant historical and archaeological resources 
and recommend whether they should be designated as National Marine 
Sanctuaries.
  Preserving the cultural legacy of our region is an important 
component of caring for our Great Lakes. Marine sanctuaries will 
protect this history while providing the additional benefits of driving 
economic development and providing jobs to our region. I look forward 
to working with my colleagues to achieve these goals.

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