A resolution designating August 7, 2026, as "National Lighthouse Day".

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 820 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 820

      Designating August 7, 2026, as ``National Lighthouse Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 30, 2026

   Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. King) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
      Designating August 7, 2026, as ``National Lighthouse Day''.

Whereas August 7, 2026, will mark the 237th anniversary of the signing by George 
        Washington of the Act entitled ``An Act for the establishment and 
        support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers'', approved 
        August 7, 1789 (commonly known as the ``Lighthouse Act of 1789'') (1 
        Stat. 53, chapter 9), an Act of the first Congress that established the 
        enduring commitment of the Federal Government to maritime safety and 
        represented the first public works legislation of the United States;
Whereas this landmark legislation emerged at a time when the United States was 
        barely a decade removed from independence, demonstrating that the 
        founders understood the critical link between navigational safety, 
        commerce, and the survival of the young republic;
Whereas, from the Atlantic shores to the Great Lakes and from the Gulf Coast to 
        the Pacific frontier, the system of lighthouses and light stations of 
        the United States has guided countless vessels through treacherous 
        waters, enabling the expansion of trade and the growth of coastal 
        communities that shaped the story of the United States;
Whereas these sentinel towers, standing at the intersection of land and sea, 
        have long symbolized safety, vigilance, and faithfulness to all who 
        venture upon the waters, and the dedicated individuals who tended their 
        lights, often in isolation and at great personal risk, embody the finest 
        traditions of service to others;
Whereas lighthouse keeping was rarely a solitary endeavor but rather a family 
        calling, with wives, children, and extended kin sharing the demanding 
        work of maintaining the light, tending the grounds, and standing watch 
        through long nights and fierce storms, a tradition that made light 
        stations not merely places of employment but homes where generations 
        learned the meaning of duty and sacrifice;
Whereas among those who served were countless women, including widows who 
        assumed keeper duties after the death of a husband, daughters who grew 
        up tending the light alongside their fathers, and women appointed in 
        their own right to positions that were among the first Federal non-
        clerical jobs open to women;
Whereas the automation of lighthouses in the United States ended the era of 
        manned light stations and exposed these historic structures to the 
        threats of neglect and vandalism and the ravages of time and the 
        elements;
Whereas chapter 3051 of title 54, United States Code (formerly known as the 
        ``National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000'' (Public Law 
        106-355; 114 Stat. 1385)), established an effective process administered 
        by the General Services Administration, the National Park Service, and 
        the United States Coast Guard for transferring lighthouses to qualified 
        stewardship groups, ensuring that these irreplaceable landmarks remain 
        in public hands for future generations;
Whereas numerous national, regional, and local organizations have worked 
        tirelessly to restore and preserve lighthouses in the United States, 
        educate the public about their history, and ensure that these beacons 
        continue to illuminate the maritime heritage of the United States;
Whereas, through the development of cultural tourism, preserved lighthouses 
        contribute meaningfully to the economies of coastal communities across 
        the United States, drawing visitors who come to experience the beauty 
        and history of these iconic structures;
Whereas 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, 
        known as the United States Semiquincentennial, a moment of national 
        reflection that calls upon the people of the United States to honor the 
        full breadth of the heritage of the United States, including the 
        lighthouses and keepers who have guided its maritime history; and
Whereas, despite significant progress, many lighthouses across the country 
        remain threatened by erosion, neglect, and deterioration, underscoring 
        the need for continued public awareness and support: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates August 7, 2026, as ``National Lighthouse 
        Day'';
            (2) encourages lighthouse grounds to be opened to the 
        general public to the extent feasible;
            (3) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
        National Lighthouse Day with ceremonies and activities that 
        celebrate the maritime heritage of the United States, including 
        visiting historic lighthouse sites, supporting preservation 
        efforts, and becoming involved with organizations dedicated to 
        lighthouse education and historic landmark preservation; and
            (4) reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to supporting 
        the preservation and restoration of historic lighthouses as 
        enduring monuments to the maritime history of the United States 
        and the individuals who kept their lights burning.
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