WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today introduced the United States Coast Guard Commemorative Coin Act, a bill that would honor the men and women of the Coast Guard and support the establishment of the National Coast Guard Museum in New London. The United States Coast Guard plays a broad and important role in homeland security, law enforcement, search and rescue, marine environmental pollution response, and the maintenance of river, intra-coastal and offshore aids to navigation (ATON). Last week, the United States Coast Guard Museum broke ground in New London and is expected to be open to the public in 2017. Once this museum is completed, each branch of the United States military will finally have a national museum through which to share its history and legacy with the American public.

Under the United States Coast Guard Commemorative Coin Act, proceeds from the sale of the Coast Guard Commemorative Coin would be used to support the development and operation of the museum via the National Coast Guard Museum Association, a nonprofit association dedicated to improving public understanding of the history, service and missions of the Coast Guard.

“The brave men and women who serve our country in the United States Coast Guard should have their legacy honored for generations to come,” said Murphy. “The new United States Coast Guard Museum in New London will showcase the Coast Guard’s rich history and its noble contributions to our country. Our bipartisan bill will provide further support to this important project and I urge my colleagues to back it.”

“This commemorative coin gives all Americans an opportunity to help build a new museum—and a living monument—honoring the brave heroes and history of our Coast Guard,” said Blumenthal. “By buying this coin, Americans can contribute to the construction and commemoration of the Coast Guard’s proud Semper Paratas legacy. This museum will serve as a beacon of public service, sparking new generations of service men and women inspired by the courageous careers of our dedicated Coast Guard veterans.”