Port Chicago Legislation Passes House

Press Release

Port Chicago Legislation Passes House

Miller's Legislation increases public access

The ongoing effort to allow future generations to learn more about the historic events at the Port Chicago weapons station got a boost Thursday as the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill legislation to increase visitor access to Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial in Concord, CA and help ensure the long-term preservation of the important WWII site.

The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial Enhancement Act of 2009, introduced by Rep. George Miller earlier this year, was approved today as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2010. Miller, whose earlier legislation created the Memorial itself, represents the area of Port Chicago and has spearheaded Congressional efforts for more than 17 years to ensure that the physical site of Port Chicago and its history are properly commemorated and preserved.

"The Port Chicago memorial commemorates the dramatic and important events that took place during WWII and reminds us of an important chapter in America's civil rights struggle," said Miller. "My bill would give future generations greater opportunity to visit this historic site and the memorial to learn from the events commemorated there.

"The massive explosion at Port Chicago more than 60 years ago - the deadliest Home Front disaster during the war - and the events it triggered helped lead to the desegregation of the US Navy and represented a critical part of America's civil rights movement," Miller said. "While Congress already has ensured a memorial at Port Chicago, this legislation would provide further assurances that the site will be properly maintained for the benefit of present and future generations."

Miller's bill has two key provisions.

Because there is presently limited public access to the Memorial, which is located within the Concord Naval Weapons Station, the bill authorizes the Interior Department to work with the City of Concord and the East Bay Regional Park District to establish and operate a Port Chicago interpretive center for the Memorial to allow veterans, students and other visitors to learn about Port Chicago, even if they can't access the site.

And the bill would also designate the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial as a unit of the National Park System, allowing the Park Service to appropriately budget for the preservation of the memorial. The legislation also calls for the different federal agencies with jurisdiction to work together to better maintain the Memorial for future generations by mitigating environmental contamination and repairing storm damage.

The bill has to be approved by the Senate and be signed by President Obama before becoming law.

Miller has long championed the Port Chicago issue and worked for nearly 20 years in Congress on behalf of the Port Chicago sailors and their families to preserve the historic site. His legislation in 1992 first designated the site of the Port Chicago Naval Magazine as a national memorial, and his subsequent efforts led to the pardon of one of the Port Chicago sailors. Since 1992, the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial has been managed by the National Park Service to remind Americans of the contributions made by the Port Chicago sailors. This summer marks the 65th anniversary of the events that took place at Port Chicago.

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