Date: 2008-03-04
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial Enhancement Act. a bill that ensures that the stories of Port Chicago will be preserved and that the site will be properly maintained for generations to come. This bill will increase the National Memorials accessibility. provide additional vis-. itor services. and help ensure longterm preservation of the site. The legislation before us today is the result of months of diligent and collaborative effort. for which I want to thank: Chairman NICK RAHALL of the Natural Resources Committee. and ranking member DON YOUNG. Chairman RAUL GRIJALVA of the National Parks. Forests. and Public Lands Subcommittee. and ranking member ROB BISHOP. Chairman IKE SKELTON of the Armed Services Committee. and ranking member DUNCAN HUNTER. and the Hi194 thoughtful and hardworking staff for the two committees. including Meghan Conklin. Dave Watkins. and David Sienicki. and my own legislative director. Ben Miller. The Port Chicago memorial. which is in my district. commemorates a very important story in American history. . The deadly munitions explosion there on the night of July 17. 1944. killed more than 300 peoplethe worst homefront disaster of World War I1. When sailors were ordered to "resume work a few weeks later. most of them refused to retum to their dangerous tasks until supervision. training. and working conditions were improved. In response. the Navy charged 50 men with conspiring to mutinyall were convicted. The majority of the men killed while handling ordinance at Port .Chicago. and all of those convicted of mutiny. were AfricanAmerican. The Port Chicago story was a turning point in American history. The injustice strongly influenced the Navys move toward desegregation in 1945. The Port Chicago memorial tells that story. and I am proud to have authored the legislation designating the memorial. as I am proud to be involvedin enhancing it with this legislation. At our hearing in Mr. GRIJALVAS subcommittee last fall. we heard from the National Park Service. in support of this bill. from Dr. Robert Allen. who literally wrote thebook on Port Chicago and is a board member of the Friends of Port Chicago. and Mr. Eugene Sayles. who was a seaman first class at Port Chicago and helped to get injured men out of the barracks after the explosion. As they and others have said. the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial tells a critical story in our civil rights and military history. and with this legislation. we are ensuring that more Americans will hear the Port Chicago story. The National Parks Conservation Association has also strongly supported this legislation. pointing to the "broad local and national support" for the effort. and noting that the Port Chicago memorial deserves elevation to its "rightful place as a fullyfledged unit of the National Park System." The new designation under this bill brings with it increased statureand more importantly. the Park Service will be able to budget for the memorials needs. In addition. the bill provides for an interpretive center for the Memorialthis facility will allow school groups. families. and other visitors to learn about Port Chicago even if they cant access the site. which is located within the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Again. I want to thank Chairman GRIJALVA. Chairman RAHALL. Chairman SKELTON. and their staff for helping us bring this important legislation to the floor today.