[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 22 (Tuesday, March 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     A BILL TO EXEMPT THE LST-325 FROM U.S. COAST GUARD INSPECTIONS

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                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 5, 2002

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce 
legislation which will assist in the preservation and promotion of the 
LST-325, a symbol of American heroism and patriotism.
  The LST-325 is a unique ship that needs and warrants special 
attention. LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks) were produced by the hundreds in 
the Second World War, but only a few are left today. Thousands of men 
served on them in the critical North Africa, Italian, and Normandy 
invasions. The brave young men who served on the LST-325 and its sister 
ships are now in the golden years of their lives, and they are 
spearheading this campaign to restore the LST-325 to its original 
glory.
  Many may remember that the LST-325 was brought back to the United 
States last year by a group of retired veterans. Against the odds, 
these veterans sailed the LST-325 from Greece to Mobile, Alabama, 
facing fierce opposition from the seas and the weather--not to mention 
the bureaucracies of various nations. They overcame these hardships and 
succeeded magnificently. I am pleased to share with you that the 
average age of the crew was seventy-two years old.
  Now the task is to restore the ship to create a living memorial and 
serve as a testament to our history and the bravery of the men who 
served on LSTs. My bill would specifically exempt the LST-325--like 
similar special category vessels such as the steamship John W. Brown in 
Baltimore, Maryland, the steamship Lane Victory in San Pedro, 
California, and the steamship Jeremiah O'Brian--from certain current 
Coast Guard technical and legal requirements (USC Title 46, Subsection 
3302, subpart (l)(1)(A), (B), and (C).) These regulations apply today's 
laws to yesterday's ships. They only impede restoration efforts of the 
ship, and raise costs unnecessarily without any benefit to the ship.
  This is problematic because the LST-325 is to be used strictly as a 
not-for-profit, historical attraction. The objective is to restore the 
LST-325 to its original condition so that it may tour the nation as a 
historical vessel to educate Americans about the role these vessels 
played in WWII, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War. In addition, 
the LST-125 would serve as a monument to memorialize similar ships 
during the Second World War, and all those who served and died on them.
  Mr. Speaker, let us honor the ``Greatest Generation'' and America 
with the restoration and memorialization of LST-325. There is clear 
precedent--and we are only asking to include the LST-325 to this short 
list of distinguished historical ships. I believe that by adding the 
LST-325 to this category, we would be appropriately honoring the vessel 
and her crew, and preserving America's history.

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