Thompson Introduces Bill to Help Maintain Mare Island Cemetery

Statement

Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced he has introduced a bill to transfer control of the Mare Island Naval Cemetery in Vallejo to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to maintain the cemetery for future generations.

"The Mare Island Naval Cemetery is the oldest on the entire West Coast and the final resting place for over 800 of our country's heroes. A national sanctuary for our veterans, the cemetery should be maintained to the highest standards so our men and women in uniform are honored to the fullest," said Thompson. "By transferring control of the cemetery from the city of Vallejo to the VA, this bill will help ensure the cemetery can be maintained without being a financial burden to the city. I am proud to work to honor our veterans in this way and want to thank the City of Vallejo and the many local veterans, including Colonel Nestor Aliga, United States Army, Retired, and Captain Ralph Parrot, United States Navy, Retired, who are working to ensure the cemetery remains a beautiful haven for so many. I look forward to working together to ensure we find a solution."

H.R. 5588 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to seek out an agreement with the City of Vallejo, under which the city would transfer control of the Mare Island Naval Cemetery to the VA. The cemetery would specifically be placed under the purview of the National Cemetery Administration. The VA would pay no fee to acquire the land, but would assume the obligation of maintaining the cemetery in the future. Click here (link is external) for the full text of the bill.

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