article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``United States Life-Saving Service Heritage Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following: (1) The United States has a long tradition of heroic efforts to rescue those in peril on the sea. (2) Legislation providing appropriations to the Secretary of the Treasury for ``surf boats, rockets, carronades, and other necessary apparatus for the better preservation of life and property from shipwrecks on the coast of New Jersey, between Sandy Hook and Little Egg Harbor'' was approved August 14, 1848 (9 Stat. 322), and was subsequently extended to support volunteer lifesaving efforts on the coast of New Jersey between Little Egg Harbor and Cape May, and in other States and territories. (3) Legislation providing appropriations to the Secretary of the Treasury ``for the purpose of more effectively securing life and property on the coast of New Jersey and Long Island... and to employ crews of experienced surfmen at such stations'' was approved April 20, 1871 (17 Stat. 12). (4) The Life-Saving Service was reorganized by the Congress by enactment of the Act entitled ``An Act to organize the Life- Saving-Service'', approved June 18, 1878 (chapter 265; 20 Stat. 163). (5) America's lifesaving stations and boats were staffed by brave volunteer and professional lifesavers, who risked life and limb to rescue shipwrecked passengers and crews. (6) Many surviving Life-Saving Service stations are of rare architectural significance, yet these historic stations are threatened by harsh coastal environments, rapid economic development in the coastal zone, neglect, and lack of resources for their preservation. (7) The heroic actions of Life-Saving Service personnel deserve greater recognition, and their contributions to America's maritime and architectural history should be celebrated through a comprehensive preservation program and greater opportunities for the public's education about the heritage of the Life-Saving Service and related private and public organizations. (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to inventory, evaluate, document, and assist in efforts to restore and preserve surviving lifesaving stations and other structures and artifacts dedicated to our forefathers' lifesaving efforts. SEC. 3. UNITED STATES LIFE-SAVING SERVICE STATION PRESERVATION PROGRAM. (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, through the National Maritime Initiative of the National Park Service, shall establish a program in accordance with this section to inventory, evaluate, document, and assist efforts to restore and preserve surviving United States Life-Saving Service stations. (b) Inventory, Documentation, and Evaluation.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association, shall-- (1) survey coastal regions of the United States to identify and prepare an inventory of surviving historic lifesaving stations, boats, and other significant lifesaving equipment; (2) document the designs of significant existing structures and lifesaving boats for inclusion in the Historic American Building Survey/Historic American Engineering Record Collection in the Library of Congress; and (3) evaluate historic lifesaving stations, including-- (A) assessing the historic significance, integrity, and condition of surviving historic lifesaving stations; (B) making recommendations for outstanding examples of historic lifesaving stations that should be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, or designated as National Historic Landmarks; and (C) making recommendations for outstanding examples of lifesaving boats to be included in the Historic American Engineering Record Collection. (c) Technical Assistance, Educational Materials, Research Aids, and Other Information.--The Secretary shall-- (1) serve as a clearinghouse of information for persons interested in restoring and preserving historic lifesaving stations, their boats, and related lifesaving equipment; and (2) make available to the public, including through the Internet, educational materials, research aids, guides, bibliographies, and other information regarding the Life-Saving Service, Revenue Cutter Service, and related organizations that provided humanitarian assistance to shipwrecked mariners and their passengers, including-- (A) information on the history and development of the Life-Saving Service, the Revenue Cutter Service, predecessor private and State lifesaving organizations such as the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and early Coast Guard lifesaving and lifeboat stations; (B) technical descriptions of lifesaving boats, line-guns, life cars, and beachcarts; (C) the inventory, documentation, and evaluation prepared under subsection (b); (D) guidance and technical assistance in the listing of historic lifesaving and lifeboat stations on the National Register of Historic Places, or their designation as National Historic Landmarks; and (E) guidance and technical assistance in the listing of historic lifesaving boats in the Historic American Engineering Record Collection. (d) Grants.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary, subject to the availability of appropriations, shall make grants to coordinate and assist in the restoration and preservation of historic lifesaving stations, historic lifesaving boats, and other significant lifesaving artifacts. (2) Cost share.--The Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out with financial assistance under this subsection shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the activity. (e) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Historic lifesaving station.--The term ``historic lifesaving station'' means any land, structure, equipment, or other physical artifact or facility formerly under the jurisdiction or control of the Life-Saving Service or any earlier private or State organizations, including lifesaving and lifeboat stations, sailors' refuges, shipwreck survivors' cache sites, boats, and beachcarts. (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Maritime Initiative of the National Park Service. (3) U.S. life-saving service heritage association.--The term ``U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association'' means the national nonprofit educational organization by that name established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the purposes and objectives of meeting and preserving America's lifesaving heritage. (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary-- (1) for use in making grants under subsection (d), $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004; and (2) for carrying out the other provisions of this section $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004.
summary: Requires the Secretary to: (1) serve as a clearinghouse of information for persons interested in restoring and preserving historic lifesaving stations, boats, and related equipment; and (2) make information regarding the Service, the Revenue Cutter Service, and related organizations that provided humanitarian assistance to shipwrecked mariners and passengers available to the public. Provides for grants, subject to the availability of appropriations, for coordination and assistance in restoration and preservation of historic lifesaving stations, boats, and other artifacts. Authorizes appropriations.