Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Assessment Act of 2014

Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Assessment Act of 2014 - Requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to assess and report on the cultural and historic resources in the waters of the Great Lakes. Directs the Under Secretary to make recommendations in the report on whether: (1) underwater geographic areas in the Great Lakes should be designated as national marine sanctuaries to protect resources of historical and archeological significance; and (2) the designation of a network of underwater Great Lakes areas that protect those resources could bring significant educational opportunities, economic development, jobs, and tourism to the Great Lakes region.

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5713 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5713

To require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to 
conduct an assessment of cultural and historic resources in the waters 
              of the Great Lakes, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 14, 2014

  Ms. Kaptur (for herself and Mr. Benishek) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to 
conduct an assessment of cultural and historic resources in the waters 
              of the Great Lakes, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Great Lakes Maritime Heritage 
Assessment Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES IN WATERS OF 
              GREAT LAKES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
Atmosphere shall--
            (1) conduct an assessment of cultural and historic 
        resources in the waters of the Great Lakes; and
            (2) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural 
        Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the 
        findings of the Under Secretary with respect to such 
        assessment.
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a)(2) shall 
include the following:
            (1) Identification of underwater geographic areas in the 
        Great Lakes that possess historical and archaeological 
        resources of sufficient value and density to make them 
        nationally significant.
            (2) A description of the historical and archaeological 
        resources in such geographic areas.
            (3) An evaluation of community interest in preserving and 
        interpreting such resources.
            (4) A recommendation regarding whether such geographic 
        areas should be designated as national marine sanctuaries to 
        protect resources of historical and archeological significance.
            (5) Recommendations regarding whether the designation of a 
        network of underwater Great Lakes areas that protect resources 
        of historical and archeological significance, including the 
        existing successful Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, 
        could bring significant educational opportunities, economic 
        development, jobs, and tourism to the Great Lakes region.
    (c) Collaboration.--In carrying out this section, the Under 
Secretary shall collaborate with local communities.
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