WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Scott Peters (D-California) on Friday introduced the “Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies Act,” legislation to prevent the United States Navy from renaming the USNS Harvey Milk and other ships named for other great Americans and civil rights leaders.
Reports from earlier this month indicate that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the Secretary of the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk during national Pride Month as part of the Administration’s broader efforts to demonize American citizens it does not like. Milk was a veteran, political leader, and a Jewish advocate for the LGBT community.
He served as a diving officer during the Korean War before being forced out of service with an “other than honorable” discharge due to his sexual orientation.
Secretary Hegseth also ordered the review of other ships, including those named for American icons such as abolitionist Harriet Tubman, labor organizer Cesar Chavez, and former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, among others. Every one of these ships was built in San Diego, which is a proud military town and partner in the national defense.
“Secretary Hegseth claims that this hateful move would return a ‘warrior ethos’ to the force, but renaming these ships won’t help better train or equip a single servicemember,” said Rep. Scott Peters. “While Hegseth works to erase the names of these important civic leaders from the fleet, the President also publicly commits to renaming military bases for Confederate leaders.
“That is a clear values statement by the Administration about the America it envisions and asks our servicemembers and their families to serve. It is unacceptable and unreflective of our country. Every sailor deserves to serve on and fight from a ship named after an American who embodies those values we wish to see in our military. That is why the Navy named these ships after such important leaders.”
The Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies act is co-sponsored by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member and Equality Caucus Chair Mark Takano (CA-39), and Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Mike Levin (CA-49), Hank Johnson (GA-4), Jill Tokuda (HI-2), Troy Carter (LA-2), Linda Sanchez (CA-39), John Garamendi (CA-8), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (Del-DC).
It is also supported by Equality California, Silver State Equality, and VoteVets.
“Just days into Pride Month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed plans to strip Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy ship. Milk is a global civil rights icon for LGBTQ+ civil rights, and this move is a petty and political act of erasure from the Trump administration,” said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang.”We’re proud to support Rep. Peters’ Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies Act, which would block efforts to rename ships honoring leaders in civil rights, labor, and social justice. We must protect these legacies.”
“The Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies Act is about honoring the legacies of Americans who expanded freedom, justice, and equality — values that every service member swears to defend. Renaming ships that bear the names of Harvey Milk, Harriet Tubman, or Ruth Bader Ginsburg is not just unnecessary — it’s a political stunt that disrespects the very principles they stood for. We applaud Representative Peters for leading this important effort to ensure our Navy continues to reflect the diversity, courage, and moral leadership that defines the best of our country.” – VoteVets
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Preceding provided by office of Congressman Scott Peters