{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/09/daily-breeze-battleship-iowa-in-san-pedro-closes-in-on-final-approval-as-national-navy-museum-site/", "Daily Breeze:  Battleship Iowa in San Pedro closes in on final approval as national Navy museum site", "2021-12-09", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n", "B001300", "barragan.house.gov", "barragan", "https://barragan.house.gov/news", "scraper", "By DONNA LITTLEJOHN | Daily Breeze\n\nUPDATED: December 9, 2021 at 12:31 p.m.\n\nThe USS Iowa took a significant step forward this week when the House of Representatives voted for the World War II battleship in San Pedro to become the first National Museum of the Surface Navy.\n\nThe legislation, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan, D-San Pedro, now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved this month. It would then go to President Joe Biden for his signature.\n\nOnce fully approved, the designation for the battleship will make it the first and only museum in the nation dedicated to the men and women who have served in the surface forces of the U.S. Navy.\n\nThe Surface Navy comprises personnel on all Navy vessels that have traveled on the ocean\u2019s surface since the nation\u2019s founding.\n\nA fundraising campaign has been ongoing for the museum, with the effort expected to cost $60 million. The opening date is set for Oct. 13, 2025 \u2014 the 250th birthday of the Navy.\n\nIncluded in the overall plan is moving the historic battleship south to the Southern Pacific Slip, where it would be closer to the new waterfront development, dubbed West Harbor, set to open in 2023.\n\n\u201cThis legislation honors the men and women who have served \u2014 and continue to serve \u2014 in the surface forces of the United States,\u201d Barragan said, \u201cby designating this museum as a monument to their sacrifice.\u201d\n\nThe ship, which was brought to the San Pedro waterfront in 2012, is now a visitor attraction and a monument to those who served.\n\nThe ship was commissioned in 1943 and was considered the most powerful American warship of its time. It served in the Pacific during World War II, transporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the first transatlantic leg of his journey to the 1943 Tehran Conference with other Allied leaders.\n\nThe Iowa also was present during the Japanese surrender at Tokyo Bay 76 years ago.\n\nThe ship was brought back into service during the Cold War and was active during the Korean War.\n\nJonathan Williams, CEO and president of the Battleship Iowa Museum, said the designation will raise \u201cthe profile of the importance of Surface Navy in trade, commerce and humanitarian assistance at the busiest port complex in the Western Hemisphere.\u201d\n\nThe legislation was first introduced by Barragan and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein in September 2020.\n\nThe Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to support the museum proposal at that time.\n\nLos Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said the ship had gained a \u201csecond life\u201d as a floating museum to teach visitors about the importance of the Navy in the nation\u2019s history.\n\nHahn supported bringing the ship to San Pedro in 2010 while she was the Los Angeles City Council member representing the 15th District.\n\nThe House of Representatives passed the bill Tuesday night, Dec. 7.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://barragan.house.gov/2021/12/09/daily-breeze-battleship-iowa-in-san-pedro-closes-in-on-final-approval-as-national-navy-museum-site/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5688398852944374, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}