[House Report 109-121]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



109th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    109-121

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                      COMMEMORATING MYSTIC SEAPORT

                                _______
                                

   June 13, 2005.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

     Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                    [To accompany H. Con. Res. 152]

  The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 152) 
commemorating Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea 
in recognition of its 75th year, having considered the same, 
report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that 
the concurrent resolution be agreed to.
  The amendment is as follows:
  Amend the preamble to read as follows:

Whereas Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea was founded as 
the Marine Historical Association on December 29, 1929, to preserve, 
protect, and honor the legacy of America's great maritime tradition and 
culture;

Whereas Mystic Seaport has grown into the largest, most diverse maritime 
museum, and the fourth largest history museum, in the Nation;

Whereas the mission of Mystic Seaport is to create a greater awareness and 
deeper appreciation of America's relationship to the sea and the impact of 
that relationship upon us as individuals and as a Nation;

Whereas the collections of Mystic Seaport include four National Historic 
Landmark vessels including the CHARLES W. MORGAN, the last wooden whaling 
ship in the world; the LA DUNTON, one of the few remaining fishing 
schooners of its era; the SABINO, one of the last coal-fired, steam ships 
still in operation; and the EMMA C. BERRY, an 1866 wooden fishing vessel;

Whereas Mystic Seaport also maintains the largest collection of watercraft 
in the nation with more than 500 vessels representing sail, oar, paddle and 
engine-powered boats spanning 2 centuries of history;

Whereas Mystic Seaport also features the Henry B. duPont Preservation 
Shipyard as a live working facility that showcases and interprets the art 
of shipbuilding and restoration, including the restoration of its iconic 
National Historic Landmark vessels;

Whereas Mystic Seaport put the Preservation Shipyard to its highest and 
best use in replicating the schooner AMISTAD in full public view, 
demonstrating its claim that Mystic Seaport is the only museum in the world 
that can build a large wooden vessel from the keel up and launch it as part 
of a comprehensive museum experience;

Whereas the Collections Research Center of Mystic Seaport houses 75,000 
maritime artifacts, more than one million photographs, and 1.5 million feet 
of film, and is a dynamic national maritime research facility;

Whereas the G.W. Blunt White Library is one of the largest and most 
thoroughly catalogued and accessible collections of marine and maritime 
research material in the world;

Whereas Mystic Seaport also features a representative 19th-century New 
England coastal village featuring skilled tradesmen and live interpretation 
to engage, educate, and entertain its visitors;

Whereas Mystic Seaport maintains educational and outreach programs for all 
levels including accredited graduate and undergraduate programs through the 
Munson Institute and Williams-Mystic, the cooperative Maritime Studies 
Program of Williams College and Mystic Seaport;

Whereas Mystic Seaport continues to attract more than 300,000 visitors each 
year and millions of other individuals through its interactive internet web 
site, demonstrating its role as a vital cultural and educational center;

Whereas more than 1,500 volunteers each year assist 300 professional and 
support staff in preserving and interpreting the collections of the Mystic 
Seaport and in delivering its unique programs; and

Whereas Mystic Seaport has recently completed a comprehensive self-study 
and a strategic program and master plan, and has recommitted itself to its 
mission with an effort to strengthen its endowment and make its programs 
more cohesive and compelling: Now, therefore, be it

                       PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Con. Res. 152 commemorates the 75th anniversary of 
Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea, and commends 
the staff, volunteers, and trustees of the Museum.

                BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

    Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea was 
founded as a Marine Historical Association on December 29, 
1929, to preserve, protect and honor the legacy of America's 
great maritime tradition and culture. Mystic Seaport is the 
Nation's largest maritime museum and fourth largest history 
museum. The mission of the museum is to inspire a deeper 
appreciation of America's relationship to the sea and to 
increase awareness of the impact that relationship has had on 
our Nation's history. Mystic Seaport provides educational and 
outreach programs for a wide variety of education and interest 
levels, and attracts more than 300,000 visitors every year.
    The Seaport Museum collections include four National 
Historic Landmark vessels, the Charles W. Morgan, the last 
wooden whaling ship in the world; the LA Dunton, one of the few 
remaining fishing schooners of its era; the Sabino, one of the 
last coal-fired, steam ships still in operation; and the Emma 
C. Berry, an 1866 wooden fishing vessel. It also houses the 
largest collection of watercraft in the nation with more than 
500 vessels representing two centuries of sail, oar, paddle and 
engine-powered boats, and the Henry B. duPont Preservation 
Shipyard. The Shipyard showcases and interprets the art of 
shipbuilding and restoration, including the restoration of the 
Seaport's iconic Landmark vessels. The Collections Research 
Center of Mystic Seaport house 75,000 maritime artifacts, more 
than one million photographs and 1.5 million feet of film, and 
the G.W. Blunt White Library is one of the largest and most 
thoroughly catalogued and accessible collections of marine and 
maritime research material in the world.

                       SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Con. Res. 152 commemorates the 75th year of the Mystic 
Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea and supports the 
museum's tradition of preserving and displaying this Nation's 
rich tradition of maritime transportation and commerce.

            LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    H. Con. Res. 152 was introduced by Congressman Rob Simmons 
on May 16, 2005. The resolution was referred to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure. On May 18, 2005 at a Full 
Committee markup the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation was discharged from consideration of the 
resolution. During the markup an amendment was offered by Mr. 
Oberstar which made technical changes to the findings of the 
resolution. The amendment was agreed to unanimously by voice 
vote, and H. Con. Res. 152, as amended, was approved 
unanimously by voice vote and was ordered favorably reported to 
the House.

                             ROLLCALL VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives 
requires each committee report to include the total number of 
votes cast for and against on each rollcall vote on a motion to 
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, 
and the names of those members voting for and against. No 
rollcall votes were ordered during consideration of H. Con. 
Res. 152.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

                          COST OF LEGISLATION

    Pursuant to clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee estimates that no costs 
will be incurred from carrying out H. Con. Res. 152.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure estimates that no new 
budget authority will be incurred in carrying out H. Con. Res. 
152.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Con. 
Res. 152 authorizes no funding.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Pursuant to clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or 
joint resolution of a public character shall include a 
statement citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in 
the Constitution to enact the measure. The Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure finds that Congress has the 
authority to enact this measure pursuant to its powers granted 
under article I, section 8 of the Constitution.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    The Committee states that the resolution includes no 
federal mandates.

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Con. Res. 152 does 
not preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this 
legislation.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 
104-1).

         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    H. Con. Res. 152 makes no changes in existing law.

                                  
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