Bart Stupak: “I would not only support the Coast Guard reauthorization... but I want to bring to the attention an amendment that we…”

“I would not only support the Coast Guard reauthorization... but I want to bring to the attention an amendment that we are going to have a little bit later here, the Upton amendment, which I believe the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) is going to accept and be even part of his amendment. Anyway, I have had the pleasure of working with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), my colleague and friend, on this amendment. I would like to maybe take a moment here and highlight the importance and need for the Upton amendment which would help to bring to light the current problem with the Federal Government's assistance for transferring lighthouses. We have probably more lighthouses on the Great Lakes than anywhere else in this Nation. It helps to tell the story of our maritime history. They stand as a testament to the thousands of mariners who lived and died on these Great Lakes and to those who dedicated their lives to guiding them home safely. The modern technology is replacing the use of the lighthouses for navigational purposes. But there are many groups out there dedicated to preserving these monuments for posterity and history.”