[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3443-S3444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6304. Mr. GRAHAM submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1094. HISTORIC NAVAL SHIP PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department 
     of the Interior the Historic Naval Ship Preservation Grant 
     Program to support the physical preservation of historic 
     military vessels, ensuring the continued availability of 
     these vessels to the American public to educate on the past 
     and inspire the future of United States military maritime 
     endeavors.
       (b) Administration.--The Program shall be administered by 
     the Secretary, in consultation with the Department of 
     Homeland Security and the Department of Defense.
       (c) Grant Uses.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary 
     may award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible 
     entities for the following activities:
       (1) Conserving and preserving historic military vessels at 
     covered sites, including--
       (A) physical upkeep and repair of the vessels; and
       (B) mitigating environmental hazards or damage to the 
     vessels.
       (2) Implementing education and workforce development 
     programs related to military maritime careers, including 
     shipbuilding and submarine construction.
       (d) Eligible Entities.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary 
     may award grants to a unit of State or local government or a 
     private nonprofit organization that administers a covered 
     site.
       (2) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under the 
     Program, an organization that administers a covered site 
     shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
     such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
     may require.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the Program 
     $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year 
     thereafter.
       (f) Definition.--In this section:
       (1) Covered site.--The term ``covered site'' means a 
     museum, memorial, monument, educational center, or other 
     venue that provides public access to, or publicly displays, a 
     historic military vessel.
       (2) Historic military vessel.--The term ``historic military 
     vessel'' means a vessel

[[Page S3444]]

     that has been decommissioned or otherwise removed from 
     service and--
       (A) was owned and operated by the Department of Defense or 
     the Coast Guard, other than a time- or voyage-chartered 
     vessel;
       (B) was owned and operated by the Department of 
     Transportation and designated by the Secretary of the 
     department in which the Coast Guard is operating as a vessel 
     equivalent to a vessel described in subparagraph (A); or
       (C) was built for, or pursuant to a contract with, the 
     United States Maritime Commission or other legacy branch of 
     the Department of Transportation and at some point in the 
     vessel's service was equipped with armaments and embarked 
     Navy Armed Guard personnel to operate the armaments.
       (3) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Historic Naval 
     Ship Preservation Grant Program established by subsection 
     (a).
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.
                                 ______