Grants and the National Maritime Heritage Act-an Update "\VJhy is $ 1.7 million available for a maritime heritage grant W program this year? Thanks to the efforts of the National Maritime Alliance with the support of the maritime heritage commun iry, including the Council of American Maritime Museums and many other organizations and individuals, the National
the National Maritime Heritage Act. The proposed amendment wo uld repeal the text inserted in 2010. It wo uld require MARAD to transfer one-quarter of the ship recycli ng receipts to the National Park Service to fund a grant program thro ugh the established competitive process.
"I am happy to support such an important cause."-Clive Gussler, New York Times best-selling author of more than fifty books, and founder of the National Undersea Marine Agency that disSuisun Bay Reserve covered the Confederate submarine Hunley. Fleet in CA. Money Maritime Heritage Act was passed in 1994. This recognizes the from the scrapping of value of America's maritime heritage and establishes a competitive ships in the National grant program, operated by the National Park Service, to invest in Defense Reserve Fleet maritime heritage preservation and education. provide the fundFunding for the grant program is solely generated by a ing for the grants portion of the proceeds associated with the scrapping of ships in program. As of June the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), a unit of the US 30th, there were 117 Maritime Administration (MARAD), part of the Department ships in the NDRF of Transportation. This funding is not subj ect to the ann ual inventory. PH OTO BY SCOTT HAEFNER appropriations process. Receipts from the scrapping of vessels provided approximately $650,000 that funded 39 awards in 1998. Moving Forward Until recently, no funds were available to support this grant program. The proposed amendment was initiated by the National That situation has changed since abo ut 2009; recycling of ships Maritime Alliance, and is supported by the Council of American produced a profit within the Maritime Administration that reached Maritime Museums, the National Maritime Historical Society, $56 million. According to the Act, half of the funds go to MARAD, the American Lighthouse Council, the US Lighthouse Society, and one fourth to the MARAD-operated maritime academies. The Tall Ships America, Steamship Historical Sociery of America, the remaining one fourth ($14 million) is to fund a public maritime Historic Naval Ships Association, the North American Sociery heritage grant program. However .... for Oceanic History, the Naval Historical Foundation, and other organizations. Members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Current Situation Transportation Committee have agreed to sponsor this amendment. An amendment to the Fiscal Year 20 10 National Defense O ur nation's maritime heritage defines each of us, whether Authorization Act significantly modified the National Maritime we represent and reside in inland or coastal communities. We H eritage Act. This amendment gave MARAD discretion to retain must work with Congress to restore the public maritime heritage a!L scrapping proceeds in support of MARAD maritime heritage. grant program it established thirry years ago (National Maritime Armed with this new aurhoriry, MARAD retained $7 million of Heritage Act, Public Law 103-451; 16 USC 5401). the $14 million available for a grant program. It distributed the The grant program supports local non-profit organizations money equally among the seven academies in January. that maintain our nation's great maritime legacy through education Why didn't MARAD keep all the funds? The $7 million available and preservation projects. Ir provides employment, and funds for to the maritime heritage grant program is a direct consequence of innovation, public outreach, local communities, volunteers, and advocacy on Capitol Hill, an effort led by the National Maritime the many active veterans who work and volunteer at maritime Alliance representing the maritime heritage communi ry. organizations. The program is no free lunch. The grants must be The National Park Service, part of the Department of matched dollar-for-dollar in cash or in-kind services. the Interior, received the funds from MARAD and, through a memorandum of agreement, has decided on a distribution of $2 Apply and Support million per year until the $7 million is expended. Additional income Information on applying for grants is available at the National from ship recycling could be added. Nore that NPS is entitled to a Park Service website: http ://www.nps.gov/maritime/. I urge your 15% administrative fee, or $300,000. 1 his is deducted from the $2 support to restore full funding of the Maritime Heritage Act. As million, leaving $1.7 million for the annual grant program . NPS the lead in this initiative, I can ass ure you of the importance of has stated that it will use the funds to restore its defunct maritime speaking with a single voice. The maritime heritage communi ry heritage program. is much stronger collectively than individually. We must rally Working with the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation around the National Maritime Heritage Act. Ir is the high-water Comm ittee and other members of Congress, the National Maritime mark of more than thirry years of our efforts to attain recognition Alliance, with its partner, Mystic Seaport, and with the heritage and support by our nation. -Timothy J Runyan, Chair, National Maritime Affiance communiry, acted to restore the original language and intent of
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