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Calls Current Lighthouse Legislation Un-American
Richard Moehl, president of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, recently had a chance to state what everybody in the lighthouses community has been saying, except he said it to the powers that be.
At a recent United States Congressional hearing, on the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 1997, Moehl blasted the United States Congress for not taking into concern the rights of non profit groups who have saved many of America's lighthouses. Referring to the many non profits around the country who have "literally saved" many lighthouses from ruin, he said, "It has been their dogged determination, financial resources, skill and good old American spirit and trust that have preserved/restored these maritime monuments for future generations."
He went on to say, "Current legislation is absolutely not fair. In fact, I will go so far to call it un-American. When a willing lessee/license nonprofit organization spends their time, talents and financial resources only to find that they stand in no meaningful priority in the chain of excessing, a legislative remedy is an absolute necessity! When a federal, state, or local agency can just step in and take over a property without just compensation to that nonprofit, it is not fair! It is not America . . . . . Confiscation is not acceptable."
Prior to his strong determined stand regarding non profits, Moehl gave Congressmen a brief history lesson on lighthouses and their importance to the growth of America, concentrating much of what he said about the Great Lakes.
He went on to tell Congress that he has heard that many government agencies want to own lighthouses, yet have no money to maintain or restore them which makes absolutely no sense.
He also appealed to Congress to allow non profits to obtain government surplus property, citing several cases where excess government artifacts were denied to lighthouse non profits and the artifacts ended up in the trash.
We at Lighthouse Digest couldn't agree more.
What can you do? Remember no matter what anyone tells you, Congress does read its mail. Write to your United States Senators and Representatives and let them know what you think. If you aren't good with writing letters, simply send them a copy of this article and tell them you agree. Be sure to refer to House Bill 2970 and Senate Bill 1403.
This story appeared in the March 1998 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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