United States Senate inquiry into the sinking of the RMS Titanic United States Senate inquiry into the sinking of the RMS Titanic The sinking of the RMS "Titanic" on April 15, 1912 resulted in an inquiry by the United States Senate. Chaired by Senator William Alden Smith, the inquiry was a subcommittee of the Senate's Commerce Committee. The hearings began in New York on April 19, 1912, later moving to Washington, D.C., concluding on May 25, 1912 with a return visit to New York. There were a total of 18 days of official investigation. Smith and seven other senators questioned surviving passengers and crew, and those who had aided the rescue
RMS Titanic Maritime Memorial Act RMS Titanic Maritime Memorial Act The R.M.S. "Titanic" Maritime Memorial Act of 1986 (, ) is a United States Act of Congress that was passed to designate the wreck of the RMS "Titanic" as an international maritime memorial and to regulate the research, exploration and salvage of the wreckage. The Act became law on October 21, 1986, when it was passed by the 99th United States Congress. According to a 1985 report, the United States Congress was concerned about potential damage caused to the "Titanic"'s wreck caused by salvagers. The report found that: Walter B. Jones, Sr. (the Democratic Congressman