WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on Wednesday announced the fiscal year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill will include $50 million for the National Coast Guard Museum in New London, increasing the federal investment to a total of $70 million. Construction of the museum will begin in 2023.

“After years of plans and proposals, hopes and expectations, the Coast Guard Museum is going to be built with construction to begin next year. The $50 million included in this budget, and the removal of the previous prohibition of federal funds being used for construction costs, represents a breakthrough for the Coast Guard, for New London and for southeastern Connecticut. This project will not only create hundreds of jobs and annually pump millions into the local economy, but also inspire the next generation to serve. The Coast Guard is the only long-standing branch of the armed services without a national museum. We owe it to the brave men and women of the Coast Guard – past, present and future – to finally make the museum a reality, and today is a tremendous step toward fulfilling that commitment.”

Murphy continued: “This critical funding wouldn’t be possible without the work of our entire Connecticut delegation, and I want to especially thank Congressman Courtney, Senator Blumenthal, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman DeLauro, Mayor Passero, and U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Schultz for their partnership and commitment to making sure this historic funding was included.”

“The funding proposed for the National Coast Guard Museum in the 2022 Federal budget is a gamechanger. With this extraordinary support championed by Senator Murphy and the Connecticut delegation, we plan to break ground this summer. We celebrate all that this means for our Nation, the region, and for our Coast Guard,” said CAPT Wes Pulver, USCG (Ret.), President, National Coast Guard Museum Association.

In October, Murphy authored an op-ed in The Day to highlight the importance of a National Coast Guard Museum to southeastern Connecticut.

 

###