A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of maritime sites in the State of Michigan.

Summary: Michigan Lighthouse and Maritime Heritage Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service Midwest Regional Office, to study and report on Michigan maritime heritage resource preservation and interpretation, including: (1) potential economic and tourism benefits of preservation of these resources; (2) suitable and feasible options for long-term protection of these resources; (3) the manner in which the public can best learn about and experience these resources; and (4) ways of linking national, State, and regional and local areas and sites into a Michigan Maritime Heritage Destination Network.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Michigan Lighthouse and Maritime 
Heritage Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) surrounded by the Great Lakes, the State of Michigan 
        gives the Midwest region a unique maritime character;
            (2) the access of the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean 
        has--
                    (A) given the shipping industry in the State of 
                Michigan an international role in trade; and
                    (B) contributed to industrial and natural resource 
                development in the State;
            (3) the State of Michigan offers unequaled opportunities 
        for maritime heritage preservation and interpretation, based on 
        the fact that the State has--
                    (A) more deepwater shoreline than any other State 
                in the continental United States;
                    (B) more lighthouses than any other State; and
                    (C) the only freshwater national marine sanctuary 
                in the United States;
            (4) the maritime history of the State of Michigan includes 
        the history of--
                    (A) the routes and gathering places of the fur 
                traders and missionaries who opened North America to 
                European settlement; and
                    (B) the summer communities of people who mined 
                copper, hunted and fished, and created the first 
                agricultural settlements in the State;
            (5) in the 19th century, the natural resources and maritime 
        access of the State made the State the leading producer of 
        iron, copper, and lumber in the United States; and
            (6) the maritime heritage of Michigan is evident in--
                    (A) the more than 120 lighthouses in the State;
                    (B) the lifesaving stations, dry docks, lightships, 
                submarine, ore docks, piers, breakwaters, sailing 
                clubs, and communities and industries that were built 
                on the lakes in the State;
                    (C) the hotels and resort communities in the State;
                    (D) the more than 12 maritime-related national 
                landmarks in the State;
                    (E) the 2 national lakeshores in the State;
                    (F) the 2 units of the National Park System in the 
                State;
                    (G) the various State parks and sites listed on the 
                National Register of Historic Places in the State;
                    (H) the database information in the State on--
                            (i) 1,500 shipwrecks;
                            (ii) 11 underwater preserves; and
                            (iii) the freshwater national marine 
                        sanctuary; and
                    (I) the Great Lakes, which have played an important 
                role--
                            (i) for Native Americans, fur traders, 
                        missionaries, settlers, and travelers;
                            (ii) in the distribution of wheat, iron, 
                        copper, and lumber;
                            (iii) providing recreational opportunities; 
                        and
                            (iv) stories of shipwrecks and rescues.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Maritime heritage resource.--The term ``maritime 
        heritage resource'' includes lighthouses, lifesaving and coast 
        guard stations, maritime museums, historic ships and boats, 
        marine sanctuaries and preserves, fisheries and hatcheries, 
        locks and ports, ore docks, piers and breakwaters, marinas, 
        resort communities (such as Bay View and Epworth Heights), 
        cruises, performing artists that specialize in maritime 
        culture, interpretive and educational programs and events, 
        museums with significant maritime collections, maritime art 
        galleries, maritime communities, and maritime festivals.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service 
        Midwest Regional Office.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Michigan.
            (4) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means the State of 
        Michigan.

SEC. 4. STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the State, the 
State historic preservation officer, local historical societies, State 
and local economic development, tourism, and parks and recreation 
offices, and other appropriate agencies and organizations, shall 
conduct a special resource study of the study area to determine--
            (1) the potential economic and tourism benefits of 
        preserving State maritime heritage resources;
            (2) suitable and feasible options for long-term protection 
        of significant State maritime heritage resources; and
            (3) the manner in which the public can best learn about and 
        experience State maritime heritage resources.
    (b) Requirements.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall--
            (1) review Federal, State, and local maritime resource 
        inventories and studies to establish the context, breadth, and 
        potential for interpretation and preservation of State maritime 
        heritage resources;
            (2) examine the potential economic and tourism impacts of 
        protecting State maritime heritage resources;
            (3) recommend management alternatives that would be most 
        effective for long-term resource protection and providing for 
        public enjoyment of State maritime heritage resources;
            (4) address how to assist regional, State, and local 
        partners in efforts to increase public awareness of and access 
        to the State maritime heritage resources;
            (5) identify sources of financial and technical assistance 
        available to communities for the conservation and 
        interpretation of State maritime heritage resources; and
            (6) address ways in which to link appropriate national 
        parks, State parks, waterways, monuments, parkways, 
        communities, national and State historic sites, and regional or 
        local heritage areas and sites into a Michigan Maritime 
        Heritage Destination Network.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date on which funds 
are made available to carry out the study under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate a report that describes--
            (1) the results of the study; and
            (2) any findings and recommendations of the Secretary.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$500,000.