To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to inventory, evaluate, document, and assist efforts to preserve surviving United States Life-Saving Service stations.

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 Life-Saving Service was organized 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 et seq.).
            (2) These lifesaving stations were staffed by brave 
        volunteer and professional lifesavers, who risked life and limb 
        to rescue shipwrecked passengers and crews.
            (3) 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.
            (4) The heroic actions of Life-Saving Service personnel 
        deserve greater recognition, and their contributions to 
        America's maritime 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.
    (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 efforts to preserve surviving Life-Saving Service 
stations.

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 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;
            (2) document the designs of significant existing structures 
        and lifesaving boats of historic lifesaving stations, for 
        inclusion in the Historic American Engineering Record 
        Collection; and
            (3) evaluate historic lifesaving stations, including--
                    (A) assessing the historic significance, integrity, 
                and condition of surviving historic lifesaving 
                stations; and
                    (B) making recommendations for outstanding examples 
                of historic lifesaving stations that should be 
                designated as National Historic Landmarks.
    (c) Technical Assistance, Educational Materials, Research Aids, and 
Other Information.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) serve as a clearinghouse of information for persons 
        interested in preserving historic lifesaving stations; 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 and related organizations that provided humanitarian 
        assistance to shipwrecked mariners, including--
                    (A) information on the history and development of 
                the Life-Saving Service, predecessor private and State 
                lifesaving organizations, and Coast Guard lifesaving 
                stations;
                    (B) technical descriptions of lifesaving boats, 
                line-guns, life cars, and other lifesaving gear;
                    (C) the inventory, documentation, and evaluation 
                prepared under subsection (b); and
                    (D) guidance and technical assistance in the 
                listing of historic lifesaving stations in the National 
                Register of Historic Places.
    (d) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, subject to the availability 
        of appropriations, shall make grants to coordinate and assist 
        preservation of historic lifesaving stations.
            (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, including 
        lifesaving stations, sailor's refuges, shipwreck survivors' 
        cache sites, and lifeboats.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the National Maritime 
        Initiative of the National Park Service.
    (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 2004 through 2008; and
            (2) for carrying out the other provisions of this section 
        $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

Summary: United States Life-Saving Service Heritage Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the National Maritime Initiative of the National Park Service, to establish a program to inventory, evaluate, document, and assist efforts to preserve surviving US Life-Saving Service stations. Requires the Secretary to: (1) serve as a clearinghouse of information for persons interested in restoring and preserving historic lifesaving stations. (2) make information regarding the Service and related organizations that provided humanitarian assistance to shipwrecked mariners available to the public, and (3) make grants to coordinate and assist such preservation.