39–006

109TH CONGRESS REPORT " HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ! 1st Session 109–121

COMMEMORATING MYSTIC SEAPORT 

JUNE 13, 2005.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, from the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H. Con. Res. 152]

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 

was referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 152) commemorating Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea 

in recognition of its 75th year, having considered the same, report 

favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the 

concurrent resolution be agreed to. 

The amendment is as follows: 

Amend the preamble to read as follows:

Whereas Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea was founded as the 

Marine Historical Association on December 29, 1929, to preserve, protect, and 

honor the legacy of America’s great maritime tradition and culture; 

Whereas Mystic Seaport has grown into the largest, most diverse maritime museum, and the fourth largest history museum, in the Nation; 

Whereas the mission of Mystic Seaport is to create a greater awareness and deeper 

appreciation of America’s relationship to the sea and the impact of that relationship upon us as individuals and as a Nation; 

Whereas the collections of Mystic Seaport include four National Historic Landmark 

vessels including the CHARLES W. MORGAN, the last wooden whaling ship in 

the world; the LA DUNTON, one of the few remaining fishing schooners of its 

era; the SABINO, one of the last coal-fired, steam ships still in operation; and 

the EMMA C. BERRY, an 1866 wooden fishing vessel; 

Whereas Mystic Seaport also maintains the largest collection of watercraft in the 

nation with more than 500 vessels representing sail, oar, paddle and enginepowered boats spanning 2 centuries of history; 

Whereas Mystic Seaport also features the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard 

as a live working facility that showcases and interprets the art of shipbuilding 

and restoration, including the restoration of its iconic National Historic Landmark vessels; 

Whereas Mystic Seaport put the Preservation Shipyard to its highest and best use 

in replicating the schooner AMISTAD in full public view, demonstrating its 

claim that Mystic Seaport is the only museum in the world that can build a 

large wooden vessel from the keel up and launch it as part of a comprehensive 

museum experience; 

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Whereas the Collections Research Center of Mystic Seaport houses 75,000 maritime 

artifacts, more than one million photographs, and 1.5 million feet of film, and 

is a dynamic national maritime research facility; 

Whereas the G.W. Blunt White Library is one of the largest and most thoroughly 

catalogued and accessible collections of marine and maritime research material 

in the world; 

Whereas Mystic Seaport also features a representative 19th-century New England 

coastal village featuring skilled tradesmen and live interpretation to engage, 

educate, and entertain its visitors; 

Whereas Mystic Seaport maintains educational and outreach programs for all levels 

including accredited graduate and undergraduate programs through the Munson Institute and Williams-Mystic, the cooperative Maritime Studies Program 

of Williams College and Mystic Seaport; 

Whereas Mystic Seaport continues to attract more than 300,000 visitors each year 

and millions of other individuals through its interactive internet web site, demonstrating its role as a vital cultural and educational center; 

Whereas more than 1,500 volunteers each year assist 300 professional and support 

staff in preserving and interpreting the collections of the Mystic Seaport and 

in delivering its unique programs; and 

Whereas Mystic Seaport has recently completed a comprehensive self-study and a 

strategic program and master plan, and has recommitted itself to its mission 

with an effort to strengthen its endowment and make its programs more cohesive and compelling: Now, therefore, be it

PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

H. Con. Res. 152 commemorates the 75th anniversary of Mystic 

Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea, and commends the 

staff, volunteers, and trustees of the Museum. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea was founded as a Marine Historical Association on December 29, 1929, to 

preserve, protect and honor the legacy of America’s great maritime 

tradition and culture. Mystic Seaport is the Nation’s largest maritime museum and fourth largest history museum. The mission of 

the museum is to inspire a deeper appreciation of America’s relationship to the sea and to increase awareness of the impact that 

relationship has had on our Nation’s history. Mystic Seaport provides educational and outreach programs for a wide variety of education and interest levels, and attracts more than 300,000 visitors 

every year. 

The Seaport Museum collections include four National Historic 

Landmark vessels, the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaling ship in the world; the LA Dunton, one of the few remaining 

fishing schooners of its era; the Sabino, one of the last coal-fired, 

steam ships still in operation; and the Emma C. Berry, an 1866 

wooden fishing vessel. It also houses the largest collection of 

watercraft in the nation with more than 500 vessels representing 

two centuries of sail, oar, paddle and engine-powered boats, and 

the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard. The Shipyard showcases and interprets the art of shipbuilding and restoration, including the restoration of the Seaport’s iconic Landmark vessels. The 

Collections Research Center of Mystic Seaport house 75,000 maritime artifacts, more than one million photographs and 1.5 million 

feet of film, and the G.W. Blunt White Library is one of the largest 

and most thoroughly catalogued and accessible collections of marine and maritime research material in the world. 

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SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

H. Con. Res. 152 commemorates the 75th year of the Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea and supports the museum’s tradition of preserving and displaying this Nation’s rich tradition of maritime transportation and commerce. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

H. Con. Res. 152 was introduced by Congressman Rob Simmons 

on May 16, 2005. The resolution was referred to the Committee on 

Transportation and Infrastructure. On May 18, 2005 at a Full 

Committee markup the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation was discharged from consideration of the resolution. During the markup an amendment was offered by Mr. 

Oberstar which made technical changes to the findings of the resolution. The amendment was agreed to unanimously by voice vote, 

and H. Con. Res. 152, as amended, was approved unanimously by 

voice vote and was ordered favorably reported to the House. 

ROLLCALL VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives requires 

each committee report to include the total number of votes cast for 

and against on each rollcall vote on a motion to report and on any 

amendment offered to the measure or matter, and the names of 

those members voting for and against. No rollcall votes were ordered during consideration of H. Con. Res. 152. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in this report. 

COST OF LEGISLATION

Pursuant to clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee estimates that no costs will be 

incurred from carrying out H. Con. Res. 152. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 308(a) of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure estimates that no new budget authority 

will be incurred in carrying out H. Con. Res. 152. 

2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Con. Res. 152 authorizes no funding. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or joint resolution 

of a public character shall include a statement citing the specific 

powers granted to the Congress in the Constitution to enact the 

measure. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

finds that Congress has the authority to enact this measure pursuVerDate jul 14 2003 00:14 Jun 14, 2005 Jkt 039006 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR121.XXX HR121
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ant to its powers granted under article I, section 8 of the Constitution. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee states that the resolution includes no federal 

mandates. 

PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the 

report of any Committee on a bill or joint resolution to include a 

statement on the extent to which the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, or tribal law. The Committee states 

that H. Con. Res. 152 does not preempt any state, local, or tribal 

law. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104–1). 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

H. Con. Res. 152 makes no changes in existing law.

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