H.R. 5970: Save Our Ships Act

This bill, known as the Save Our Ships Act, aims to establish a program specifically designed to support the preservation of historic military vessels. It is introduced in the House of Representatives and primarily seeks to ensure that these ships and submarines remain available for public education and inspiration relating to the United States' military maritime history.

Historic Naval Ship Preservation Grant Program

The program would be set up within the Department of the Interior and administered by the Secretary of the Interior, in collaboration with both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. The key goals of this program are:

• To preserve and maintain historic military vessels for public access and education.
• To encourage the development of educational and workforce training programs connected to military maritime fields, such as shipbuilding and submarine construction.

Grant Uses

The Secretary will have the authority to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities. The grants can be used for various activities, including:

• Physical upkeep and repair of historic military vessels.
• Mitigating any environmental hazards or damage to these vessels.
• Implementing educational programs and workforce development initiatives related to military maritime careers.

Eligible Entities

Grants can be awarded to:

• Units of state or local government.
• Private non-profit organizations that manage a covered site.

Organizations seeking grants must submit an application to the Secretary detailing the necessary information as specified by the Secretary's guidelines.

Funding

The bill proposes to allocate $5,000,000 annually, starting from the fiscal year 2026, to support the activities of the Historic Naval Ship Preservation Grant Program.

Definitions

For the purposes of this legislation:

• Covered site: A museum, memorial, educational center, or other venues where the public can access or see a historic military vessel.
• Historic military vessel: A ship that has been retired or taken out of service and was previously owned by the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, among other criteria outlined in the bill.
• Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of the Interior, operating through the Director of the National Park Service.

Relevant Companies

None found