WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $5 million in Fiscal Year 2017 for the National Coast Guard Museum as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which the committee passed today. This marks the first federal investment approved for the museum.

“What a day for southeastern Connecticut. Connecticut’s National Coast Guard Museum will have a fascinating story to tell, and it's going to attract millions of visitors to the area,” said Murphy. “I’ve been fighting tooth-and-nail alongside Senator Blumenthal and Congressman Courtney to allow for federal funding for the museum. As soon as we got the green light to pursue funding, I worked hard on the Appropriations Committee to make it happen. Today’s investment is a down payment to get the artifacts and exhibits restored and ready to be displayed, but it’s also important seed money for New London and the Coast Guard as we all work together to make the museum a reality.”

Murphy previously worked with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Joe Courtney to get the Coast Guard Authorization Act passed and signed into law. The new law allows the U.S. Coast Guard to use federal funds to support the construction and installation of exhibits and displays for the National Coast Guard Museum in New London, Connecticut.

The federal money will be used for initial appraising, cataloguing, and organizing the existing collection of artifacts. Specifically, it will support refurbishing artifacts currently owned by U.S. Coast Guard, such as Fresnel lenses, uniforms, textiles, boats, and other equipment, and will help halt deterioration and prepare them for display.