Battleship Iowa National Museum of the Surface Navy Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2122 | Sponsor: Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz (D-CA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Battleship Iowa National Museum of the Surface Navy Act of 2021
This bill designates the Battleship USS Iowa Museum located in Los Angeles, California, as the National Museum of the Surface Navy.

To designate the Battleship IOWA Museum, located in Los Angeles, 
 California, as the National Museum of the Surface Navy, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Battleship Iowa National Museum of 
the Surface Navy Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The United States Surface Navy represents the millions 
        of sailors and thousands of ships that sail on oceans around 
        the world to ensure the safety and freedom of Americans and all 
        people.
            (2) The Battleship IOWA is an iconic Surface Navy vessel 
        that--
                    (A) served as home to hundreds of thousands of 
                sailors from all 50 States; and
                    (B) is recognized as a transformational feat of 
                engineering and innovation.
            (3) In 2012, the Navy donated the Battleship IOWA to the 
        Pacific Battleship Center, a nonprofit organization pursuant to 
        section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, after 
        which the Center established the Battleship IOWA Museum at the 
        Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California.
            (4) The Battleship IOWA Museum is a museum and educational 
        institution that--
                    (A) has welcomed millions of visitors from across 
                the United States and receives support from thousands 
                of Americans throughout the United States to preserve 
                the legacy of those who served on the Battleship IOWA 
                and all Surface Navy ships;
                    (B) is home to Los Angeles Fleet Week, which has 
                the highest public engagement of any Fleet Week in the 
                United States and raises awareness of the importance of 
                the Navy to defending the United States, maintaining 
                safe sea lanes, and providing humanitarian assistance;
                    (C) hosts numerous military activities, including 
                enlistments, re-enlistments, commissionings, 
                promotions, and community service days, with 
                participants from throughout the United States;
                    (D) is a leader in museum engagement with 
                innovative exhibits, diverse programming, and use of 
                technology;
                    (E) is an on-site training platform for Federal, 
                State, and local law enforcement personnel to use for a 
                variety of training exercises, including urban search 
                and rescue and maritime security exercises;
                    (F) is a partner with the Navy in carrying out 
                Defense Support of Civil Authorities efforts by 
                supporting training exercises and responses to crises, 
                including the COVID-19 pandemic;
                    (G) is a science, technology, engineering, and 
                mathematics education platform for thousands of 
                students each year;
                    (H) is an instrumental partner in the economic 
                development efforts along the Los Angeles waterfront by 
                attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually 
                and improving the quality of life for area residents; 
                and
                    (I) provides a safe place for--
                            (i) veteran engagement and reintegration 
                        into the community through programs and 
                        activities that provide a sense of belonging to 
                        members of the Armed Forces and veterans; and
                            (ii) proud Americans to come together in 
                        common purpose to highlight the importance of 
                        service to community for the future of the 
                        United States.
            (5) In January 2019, the Pacific Battleship Center received 
        a license for the rights of the National Museum of the Surface 
        Navy from the Navy for the purpose of building such museum 
        aboard the Battleship IOWA at the Port of Los Angeles.
            (6) The National Museum of the Surface Navy will--
                    (A) be the official museum to honor millions of 
                Americans who have proudly served and continue to serve 
                in the Surface Navy since the founding of the Navy on 
                October 13, 1775;
                    (B) be a community-based and future-oriented museum 
                that will raise awareness and educate the public on the 
                important role of the Surface Navy in ensuring 
                international relations, maintaining safe sea transit 
                for free trade, preventing piracy, providing 
                humanitarian assistance, and enhancing the role of the 
                United States throughout the world;
                    (C) build on successes of the Battleship IOWA 
                Museum by introducing new exhibits and programs with a 
                focus on education, veterans, and community;
                    (D) borrow and exhibit artifacts from the Navy and 
                other museums and individuals throughout the United 
                States; and
                    (E) work with individuals from the Surface Navy 
                community and the public to ensure that the story of 
                the Surface Navy community is accurately interpreted 
                and represented.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE SURFACE NAVY.

    (a) Designation.--The Battleship IOWA Museum, located in Los 
Angeles, California, and managed by the Pacific Battleship Center, 
shall be designated as the ``National Museum of the Surface Navy''.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the National Museum of the Surface 
Navy shall be to--
            (1) provide and support--
                    (A) a museum dedicated to the United States Surface 
                Navy community; and
                    (B) a platform for education, community, and 
                veterans programs;
            (2) preserve, maintain, and interpret artifacts, documents, 
        images, stories, and history collected by the museum; and
            (3) ensure that the American people understand the 
        importance of the Surface Navy in the continued freedom, 
        safety, and security of the United States.
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