Bill Overview
Title: To amend title 54, United States Code, to authorize the appropriation of $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 and 2024 to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program.
Description: This bill modifies funding for the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program. The bill authorizes appropriations for the program through FY2024 in addition to the current funding through the Vessel Operations Revolving Fund.
Sponsors: Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals benefiting from maritime heritage activities
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The National Maritime Heritage Grant Program supports maritime heritage activities such as education and historic preservation related to U.S. waterways.
- This program impacts not only historical societies and museums but also educational institutions and communities that focus on maritime history.
- The enhancement in funding could enable more projects nationwide that preserve maritime heritage.
Reasoning
- The National Maritime Heritage Grant Program's improved funding will primarily affect people involved in maritime heritage activities such as employees of museums or educational institutions, and members of communities that focus on U.S. waterways. This includes sparking interest in maritime heritage among younger generations.
- Given the program's budget constraints, the direct impact will be seen in funded projects and educational programs. Therefore, the impact may be low or non-existent for the general population not connected to maritime industries or interests.
- The impact duration could vary but is likely focused on long-term improvements in maritime heritage preservation, potentially boosting tourism and educational outcomes in affected areas.
- The common types of individuals most impacted include teachers in maritime-focused schools, employees of maritime museums, local historians focused on maritime subjects, and volunteers in maritime heritage organizations.
Simulated Interviews
Maritime Museum Curator (Boston, MA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The increased funding can really help us expand our educational programs and enhance exhibits.
- More resources could enable hiring additional staff or improving current facilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
High School History Teacher (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this funding leads to more resources for teaching maritime history, that would be fantastic.
- It's difficult to keep students engaged with limited teaching materials.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Marine Archeologist (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funding might allow us to work on more projects or even longer expeditions.
- Preserving maritime artifacts is so vital to our cultural heritage.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired Navy Veteran (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any additional funding helps us attract more visitors and conduct better outreach.
- I worry about the younger generation losing touch with our naval history.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Owner of a small maritime-related bookshop (Miami, FL)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With more focus on maritime heritage, maybe more people will seek out resources like my shop.
- The maritime heritage program can drive interest locally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Graduate Student in History (Seattle, WA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding for maritime heritage can mean more opportunities for us in academia.
- It influences my access to resources and possibly career prospects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Local Historian (Charleston, SC)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased funding can mean more support for local history projects.
- It helps in preserving the maritime narratives of the Carolina region effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Boat Builder and Restoration Expert (Port Townsend, WA)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Restoration projects are often dependent on such grants.
- More funding can keep the tradition alive and also benefit the local economy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Nonprofit Director (Newport, RI)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced funding can expand our reach, offering more kids the chance to learn.
- We rely heavily on grants to keep programs affordable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Dockworker (Galveston, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see this policy affecting me directly, though it's nice to know our history is being preserved.
- The benefits seem more geared towards educational and heritage sectors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $9500000, High: $10500000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $9500000, High: $10500000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The program could indirectly support local economies through heritage tourism.
- Funding depends on federal budget allocations and may compete with other priorities.