text: 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.
target: 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.
feat_title: United States Life-Saving Service Heritage Act