PUBLIC LAW 103-451 —NOV. 2, 1994 108 STAT. 4769 Public Law 103-451 ^ ^^.^ 103d Congress ' An Act To establish a National Maritime Heritage Program to make grants available for ^ £ 1994 educational programs and the restoration of America's cultural resovures for — ' O/XCQI— the purpose of preserving America's endangered maritime heritage. Lxl.K. ouoyj Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. National Maritime SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. SSf?*^® ^^ °^ 1994. This Act may be cited as the **Natioiial Maritime Heritage 16 USC 5401 Act of 1994". °*«- SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 16 USC 5401. The Congress finds and declares the following: (1) The United States is a nation witii a rich maritime history, and it is desirable to foster in the American public a greater awareness and appreciation of the role of maritime endeavors in our Nation's history and culture. (2) The maritime historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a part of our community life and development. (3) National, State, and local groups have been working independently to preserve the maritime heritage of the United States. (4) Historic resources significant to the Nation's maritime heritage are beiog lost or substantially altered, often inadvertently, with increasing fi*equency. (5) The preservation of this irreplaceable maritime heritage is in the public interest so that its vital legacy of cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, and economic benefits will be maintained and enriched for fixture generations of Americans. (6) The current governmental and nongovernmental historic preservation programs and activities are inadequate to ensure fixture generations a genuine opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the rich maritime heritage of our Nation. (7) A coordinated national program is needed immediately to redress the adverse consequences of a period of indifference during which the maritime heritage of the United States has become endangered and to ensure the fixture preservation of the Nation's maritime heritage. (8) A national maritime heritage poUcy would greatly increase public awareness of, and participation in, the preservation of the Nation's nuiritime heritage.
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