Statement Of Senator Levin To The Subcommittee On National Parks Hearing On S. 715, The National Lighthouse Stewardship Act

Statement

Chairman Udall and members of the subcommittee, thank you for holding this hearing on S. 715, the National Lighthouse Stewardship Act. This legislation creates a three year competitive grant program at the Department of the Interior that will help to pay for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic lighthouses across the country. The grants will help nonprofit organizations, which serve as caretakers for these historic landmarks, to help them preserve and rehabilitate the historic lighthouses and keep them accessible to the public.

This legislation complements a bill that was enacted in October 2000, the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, which I joined Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska, in offering. With the Coast Guard getting out of the lighthouse business, the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act helped facilitate the process of transferring historic lighthouses from the government to nonprofit historical organizations that would take over the responsibility for their care. It established an expedited process through the Government Services Agency to help ease lighthouse transfers by helping to cut through the bureaucratic red tape. As a result of the law, 51 lighthouses to date --- 13 in Michigan --- have been transferred to custodians who will preserve them and keep them accessible to the public.

Many of these lighthouse structures are in need of significant repair and rehabilitation, which is now the responsibility of their nonprofit custodians. Unfortunately, after obtaining custody of the lighthouses, many of the nonprofit organizations have struggled to raise the funds to adequately restore and maintain the lighthouses. To address this problem our legislation establishes a pilot program that would enable state and nonprofit groups to apply for competitive grants to help with restoration and maintenance efforts. This pilot program would authorize the secretary to distribute $20 million a year for three years.

Funding for lighthouse restoration is important to Michigan and to the nation's historic preservation efforts. There are approximately 740 lighthouses in 31 coastal states. Michigan alone has over 120 lighthouses, more than any other state. They draw thousands of visitors to Michigan and other states each year and create jobs throughout our states. Michigan's and the nation's lighthouses are national treasures that beautify our shorelines. These historic lighthouses are part of our nation's rich maritime heritage. The grants are needed to help nonprofit organizations, which serve as caretakers for the historic landmarks, to maintain the beauty of the lighthouses and keep them accessible to the public.

My office worked closely with lighthouse preservation groups in drafting this legislation. The Michigan Lighthouse Fund in my home state was invaluable in providing information on the needs of our nation's lighthouses. The funding that would be provided by this bill is desperately needed by these groups that work tirelessly to preserve our nation's maritime heritage.

This funding would help ensure our lighthouses remain cultural beacons for generations to come. America's lighthouses are national treasures that we cannot let deteriorate to the point beyond repair. I hope the subcommittee will support the National Lighthouse Stewardship Act.

I ask that the following letters from lighthouse organizations in support of this legislation be included with my testimony in the hearing record.

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