At the end of last month, U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., introduced a proposal to “recognize the Memorial, Memorial Garden, and K9 Memorial of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Fla., as the official national memorials of Navy SEALs.”
Last week, Mast and primary co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., showcased the proposal.
“Florida is proud to be the birthplace of the Navy SEALs and is honored that they are a part of our community’s history. I can think of no better location for the national memorial than Fort Pierce,” Mast said. “As we cope with the despair and chaos of the Afghanistan withdrawal, this recognition is an important message to all veterans and their families that their sacrifices were not made in vain, particularly those of our Navy SEAL teams. Honoring our veterans is the least that America can do for those who put their lives on the line for her.”
“Florida is home to an incredible museum honoring the world-renowned Navy SEALs,“ Murphy said. “I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan bill with Congressman Mast to designate the entire site as an official ‘national’ memorial, in order to pay tribute to the sacrifices this elite fighting force has made in defense of our nation. As the vice-chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee that oversees special operations forces, I’m proud to have our legislation included in the annual defense authorization bill.”
“The bill will grant the Memorial, Memorial Garden, and K9 Memorial of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, located at 3300 North Highway A1A, North Hutchinson Island, in Fort Pierce, Fla., the official status as the national memorial, memorial garden, and K9 memorial, respectively,” Mast’s office noted. “The bill’s language has also been adopted as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA FY2022). The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the NDAA during the week of September 20, 2021.”
Besides Murphy, other cosponsors of the bill include U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., Neal Dunn, R-Fla., Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., Bill Posey, R-Fla., John Rutherford, R-Fla., Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., Greg Steube, R-Fla., and Michael Waltz, R-Fla.
Mast’s bill was sent to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee at the end of last month. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.
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