$5M Maritime Heritage Grant Funding Approved by Congress! by Timothy J. Runyan, PhD
Chair, National Maritime Alliance; Trustee, National Maritime Historical Society
O
n 20 December, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which allocates national defense funding for fiscal year 2020, was signed into law. We were pleased to see that a provision that authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide up to $5 million for the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program was included in the bill and was subsequently approved by the US House of Representatives and Senate. This is a huge victory for the maritime heritage community, and those who responded to our appeals to contact senators and representatives to urge their support
should feel gratified that their efforts paid off. Our grassroots effort over the past year was critical in achieving success. Thank you. We also thank the Navy League for supporting the provision; they proved to be a great partner in this mission. Our champion in this effort is Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) from Buffalo, and his staff, led by Legislative Director Kayla Williams. New York senators Schumer and Gillibrand also supported the provision, as did members from across the country from both houses and parties. The final NDAA was changed substantially during the several months of conference in the House
“From the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, to Long Island’s Stepping Stones Lighthouse, New York State is home to some of the most breathtaking maritime features in the nation that play an essential role in teaching countless New Yorkers of our state’s proud maritime and naval history,” said US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “That’s why I’m so thrilled to announce that I’ve successfully pushed to include a dedicated funding allocation for the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program in the final NDAA. For the first time ever, this essential grant program will be funded by the federal purse, ensuring that more of New York’s maritime treasures can be restored and protected for the long-term future.”
and Senate to iron out differences in their defense bills. The section providing the $5M grant funding was included in the final bill. This is the first time direct federal funding for the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program has been requested. Until now, the grant program has been funded entirely from a percentage of the profits the Maritime Administration (MARAD) takes in from the scrapping or recycling of ships of the National Defense Reserve Fleet, a provision of the National Maritime Heritage Act we fought for 25 years ago. That source is projected to yield approximately $1.35 million for 2020. While just over a million dollars is nothing to squawk at, it is down considerably from past years, when the program provided $10 million in grant funds over four years, then zero funding this past year. The $5 million provided through the Department of Defense is in addition to the MARAD funding. The grant program will continue to be administered by the National Park Service Maritime Heritage Program.
Next Steps Our job is not completed. The authorization of this $5M came at the tail end of the year, too late to be included in the FY2020 appropriations bill. Although Congress authorized the $5M in 2019, it still must be appropriated. This requires support by the House and Senate appropriations committees. Frustrating! Looking ahead, we have already begun advocating for the
inclusion of funding for the Maritime Heritage Grant Program in the FY2021 authorization and appropriation bills. Before we despair that a victory was achieved (authorization by Congress), only to learn it did not produce the result we expected for 2020, we need to acknowledge that within the American political system, achieving the final victory is not an event,
One reason for optimism comes from the press releases issued by Schumer, Gillibrand, and Higgins on 12 December 2019: National Defense Bill Authorizes New, Critical Funding for National Maritime Heritage Grant Program Program Honors Nation’s Maritime History by Supporting Preservation and Public Awareness Projects Washington, DC—US Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Congressman Brian Higgins (DNY-26) today announced that following their push, the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes their provision to increase funding for the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program. The National Maritime Heritage Grant Program helps celebrate and honor the nation’s maritime legacy by funding projects that preserve and boost public awareness of the maritime heritage in the United States. 18
but a process. We will not let this keep us from forging ahead, with the ongoing financial support of the grant program as our goal. The key initiative was achieved—
“New York State has a rich maritime military history that centers like the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park help to preserve and celebrate. Through them, New Yorkers and tourists are able to see and gain a real appreciation for the naval vessels that our service members fought on,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “That’s why I’m pleased that this year’s final NDAA includes a dedicated stream of funding for the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program. This will help ensure that our country’s storied maritime history can continue to be preserved for generations to come.” SEA HISTORY 170, SPRING 2020