WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and Don Bacon (R-NE) reintroduced the Save Our Ships Act to help preserve historic U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships and submarines to display in museums and memorials.

Ship museums across the country provide educational programs to over half a million youth and support over 2,000 enlistments, retirements, and commissioning ceremonies every year, all while contributing $1 billion annually to the economy. However, many historic naval ships don’t get the opportunity to be put on display due to the challenges of physical preservation and maintenance.

The Save Our Ships Act addresses this problem by creating the Historic Naval Ship Preservation Grant Program, which would provide funding for physical upkeep and educational programs for these ships and submarines.

“I’m proud to introduce the Save Our Ships Act to make it easier to preserve our historic naval ships and submarines, like the Battleship New Jersey in Camden City,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “The educational opportunities that come from preserving these historic vessels are priceless. We must ensure students and families can learn about the rich history of our Navy and Coast Guard and inspire the next generation of shipbuilders and servicemembers.”    

“Omaha’s Freedom Park is home to the USS Marlin SST-2 and the USS Hazard AM-240, a minesweeper and submarine, which have both undergone major restoration work over the years due to flooding in 2011, 2015 and 2019,” said Congressman Don Bacon. “But a dedicated group of volunteers work tirelessly to keep these and other items at the park in pristine condition so that visitors can get a taste of living history. I’m thrilled to join Rep. Norcross on this legislation that will create a competitive grant program to help museums that house these treasures perform some of the needed maintenance.”

“The Battleship New Jersey — the most decorated battleship in the 250-year history of the United States Navy — is proud to stand in full support of the bipartisan Save Our Ships Act,” said Marshall Spevak, Chief Executive Officer of the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial on the Camden Waterfront. “No museum ship in America is federally owned; we’re all nonprofit organizations facing the same challenges as other museums — only our work is even more costly. Congressman Norcross, one of our longest and most dedicated advocates, understands that, and we’re deeply grateful to him and the bill’s co-sponsors for their commitment to preserving our nation’s military and maritime history.”

The members were joined by Representatives Troy Carter (D-LA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) in introducing the bill.

Read the one-pager here.

Read the full bill text here. 

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