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SS United States Preservation Foundation Inc

America 250 Maritime Heritage Act

A Bill Proposal To Rescue American Heritage & Honor Our Veterans 

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The Vision

The America 250 Maritime Heritage Act envisions a transformative rebirth of the SS United States—not merely as a restored vessel, but as a living, breathing monument to American resilience, innovation, and sacrifice. Moored at the heart of Shores of Liberty Park, this legendary ship will serve as the National Center of Maritime Excellence, a Flagship of purpose and pride. Onboard, the ship will house American trade schools, technological and innovation programs, maritime training facilities, and Veteran reintegration initiatives designed to guide our heroes through the most vulnerable chapter of their journey—returning home. These programs will offer job training, placement, and medical support, addressing the critical transition period that too often leads to homelessness and suicide among veterans. The SS United States will stand as a national model, a beacon of hope and healing for those who served.

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Surrounding her, Shores of Liberty Park will unfold as a sacred space of remembrance and inspiration. Statues and memorials will honor the fallen—past, present, and future—while a Garden of Maritime Heroes will celebrate the courage and legacy of those who shaped our maritime story. Youth-focused exhibits and learning centers will ignite curiosity and cultivate the next generation of shipbuilders, mariners, and innovators. At the heart of the park, a towering 250-foot flagpole will rise, bearing a 48-foot American Flag—a powerful tribute to our nation’s 250-year Maritime Legacy while honoring American Shipbuilders and WWII Veterans from the lower 48 states who gave life to the SS United States.

The America 250 Maritime Heritage Act: A Lifeboat for a Nation in Crisis

The SS United States is not a relic of the past—she is a vessel of answers. Moored at the heart of Shores of Liberty Park, she will become the National Center of Maritime Excellence, delivering programs that directly confront some of the most urgent crises facing our nation. This act transforms her into a living monument of purpose, where steel meets service, and history fuels hope.

Preserving Our Flagship to Rescue Our Veterans, Rebuild Our Workforce, and Reignite American Innovation

Veteran Reintegration: A Mission That Saves Lives

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America’s veterans are in crisis. The transition from military to civilian life is one of the most vulnerable chapters in a service member’s journey—and the statistics are heartbreaking:

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  • 17.6 veterans die by suicide every day, according to the VA’s 2024 report

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  • Independent studies suggest the real number may be as high as 44 per day, when accounting for underreported overdoses and self-injury mortality

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  • 33,000 veterans remain homeless, with women veterans 2–3 times more likely to experience homelessness than any other adult group

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  • Suicide rates spike to 46.2 per 100,000 in the first year after discharge—the most dangerous window

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  • Veterans with PTSD, moral injury, or traumatic brain injuries face up to 91.9% higher suicide rates

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These are not just numbers. They are lives lost in silence.​​

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​The SS United States will become a sanctuary of purpose, offering:

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  • Job training and placement programs tailored to veterans’ skills

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  • Mental health support and peer mentorship during the critical first two years post-service

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  • Housing assistance and transitional care to prevent homelessness

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  • Veteran-led instruction and leadership roles, restoring identity and mission

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This is not symbolic. It will save lives.

Veteran Housing Aboard the
SS United States

A Sanctuary of Stability, Dignity, and Recovery

America’s veterans face a housing crisis that demands urgent action:

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  • Over 33,000 veterans remain unhoused nationwide, despite decades of federal intervention

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  • Transitional housing programs like HUD-VASH and Grant and Per Diem (GPD) have proven effective—but lack sufficient capacity and geographic reach

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  • Veterans experiencing homelessness are disproportionately affected by PTSD, substance use, and suicide risk

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The SS United States will offer trauma-informed transitional housing, modeled after successful federal programs, and enhanced by maritime community support:

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  • Private quarters with wraparound services, including mental health care, peer counseling, and medical access

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  • Veteran-led housing management, fostering trust, mentorship, and accountability

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  • Integrated workforce training, ensuring residents transition from recovery to employment

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  • Partnerships with VA, HUD, and nonprofit providers to expand access and funding

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This isn’t just shelter—it’s a lifeline. A place where those who served can heal, rebuild, and rejoin the nation they defended.

American Trade Schools: Rebuilding the Backbone of Our Economy

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America faces a growing skills gap that threatens our economic resilience:

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  • Millions of skilled trade jobs remain unfilled, while college debt continues to rise

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  • Trade school graduates often earn equal or higher wages than bachelor’s degree holders in skilled fields

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  • The average cost of trade school is less than half that of a four-year college, with faster entry into the workforce

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The SS United States will house hands-on trade school classrooms and simulators, offering:

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  • Apprenticeship pipelines for shipbuilding, electrical work, welding, and logistics

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  • Veteran-led instruction, turning experience into mentorship

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  • Partnerships with MARAD and state maritime academies to expand certification pathways

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This isn’t just education—it’s economic revival.

STEM & Innovation Hubs:
Securing Our Future

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STEM education is the backbone of national competitiveness—and America is falling behind:

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  • The U.S. ranks last in math and middle of the pack in science among economic peers

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  • STEM jobs are projected to grow by 10.8% by 2031, faster than all other sectors

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  • Students in underserved communities lack access to hands-on STEM learning and career pathways

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The SS United States will deliver:

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  • STEM labs and maker spaces for youth and veterans

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  • AI and ocean tech incubators to drive innovation

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  • Partnerships with maritime academies and universities to expand opportunity

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  • Learning centers focused on climate, sustainability, and ocean science

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This is how we ignite curiosity, build resilience, and secure our future.

Maritime Training & National Security: Restoring Readiness

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America’s maritime workforce is aging and shrinking:

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  • The U.S. Merchant Marine is down to less than 1% of its WWII strength

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  • MARAD reports a shortage of qualified mariners for sealift operations, threatening national readiness

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  • Maritime academies are struggling to recruit and retain cadets

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The SS United States will become:

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  • A training vessel and recruitment hub for the next generation

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  • A platform for MARAD, DOT, and veteran organizations to collaborate

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  • A symbol of national unity, bridging civilian and military maritime service

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This is how we restore readiness and rebuild pride.

Maritime Mentorship Aboard the
SS United States

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Passing the Torch Through Experience, Storytelling, and Stewardship

America’s maritime legacy is not just built on ships—it’s built on people:

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Generations of mariners, engineers, and naval leaders have shaped the nation’s course through lived experiences. Institutional memory is at risk as seasoned professionals retire without structured mentorship programs and younger generations lack access to firsthand maritime knowledge, weakening continuity and civic connection

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The SS United States will serve as a national center for maritime mentorship, fulfilling the Act’s call to “preserve and transmit the wisdom of maritime heritage to future generations”:

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  • Veteran-Led Mentorship Programs pairing retired mariners, naval officers, and shipbuilders with students, cadets, and apprentices

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  • Storytelling and Oral History Initiatives capturing lived experiences and embedding them into public education and training curricula

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  • Intergenerational Workshops and Forums where maritime professionals share lessons in leadership, resilience, and innovation

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  • Legacy Exhibits and Interactive Archives allowing visitors to engage directly with the voices and artifacts of America’s maritime past

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  • Partnerships with Maritime Academies and Youth Organizations to ensure mentorship is sustained, inclusive, and nationally accessible

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This isn’t just education—it’s inheritance. A living exchange where the wisdom of the sea becomes the foundation for America’s maritime future.

Public Engagement & Access:
A National Imperative

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The SS United States is not just a ship—it is a living classroom, a civic monument, and a platform for public participation.

 

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the vessel offers an unprecedented opportunity to reconnect citizens with their maritime heritage, environmental stewardship, and the democratic process.

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  • Public Access: The ship’s preservation ensures that all Americans—students, veterans, families, and future leaders—can walk its decks, learn its history, and shape its future.

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  • Civic Engagement: From labor unions to maritime academies, the SS United States has galvanized a diverse coalition. Its survival depends on inclusive dialogue, transparent governance, and lawful public oversight.

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  • America 250 Legacy: Preserving the vessel affirms our national commitment to honoring shared history, amplifying silenced voices, and building a future rooted in participation—not exclusion.

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This is not just about saving steel. It’s about safeguarding access, memory, and meaning. The SS United States must be protected as a public trust—open, accountable, and enduring.

Shores of Liberty Park: A Sacred Space for Unity and Reflection

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Surrounding her, Shores of Liberty Park will unfold as a sanctuary of remembrance and inspiration:

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  • Statues and memorials will honor the fallen—past, present, and future

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  • A Garden of Maritime Heroes will celebrate courage and legacy

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  • Youth-focused exhibits and learning centers will cultivate future shipbuilders and mariners

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  • A 250-foot flagpole will rise, bearing a 48-foot American Flag—a towering tribute to our 250-year maritime legacy and the WWII Veterans and American Shipbuilders from the original 48 states who gave life to the SS United States

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This is not just a restoration. It’s a resurrection.

She Is America & She's Still Afloat.
She belongs Above The Waves.

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The America 250 Maritime Heritage Act is not just preservation—it’s preparation. It’s not just a monument—it’s a mission. She is not just a ship—She’s America’s Ark.

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The SS United States still stands. But she cannot fight alone.

If you believe in honoring the past, protecting our heroes, and building a future worthy of our legacy—this is your moment. Before the last of her kind is sunk beneath the waves, stand with us:

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  • Sign the petition

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  • Share her story far and wide

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  • Donate to the preservation campaign

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  • Write your Representatives, Senators, and the President of the United States

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Let them know you support the America 250 Maritime Heritage Act, and you demand action. Every signature, every dollar, every message is one more rivet securing her rightful future.

Ink to Parchment: A 250-Year Legacy Worth Saving

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As we approach the 250th anniversary of our great maritime nation, let us reflect on the lesson our forefathers taught when they put ink to parchment. They stood against tyranny and affirmed the values we hold true today: liberty, unity, sacrifice, and resolve.

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It was a bold few who defied a giant and birthed a nation, instilling values that endure. And just like those Founders, the builders of the SS United States rose from a divided and segregated nation in 1950, joined hands across 48 states, and gave us the greatest maritime and technological achievement the world had ever seen.

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She united us again on her maiden voyage—an embodiment of liberty smashing through waves to earn the Blue Riband and the hearts of millions. She became a living legend, towering above the seas even today, weathered but proud—much like Old Glory, which has been neglected, burned, and left behind… yet never surrendered.

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The environments may change. But the colors endure: Red, White, and Blue. The heartbeat of a nation. The banner of unity. The promise of the United States.

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Let us exemplify our Founders. Let us honor this ship. And just like 1776—let us again put ink to parchment and enact the America 250 Maritime Heritage Act.

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Not just for patriotism. But for the future—for the youth who are watching, for the inheritance we now hold, and for the heritage we must defend.

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The world is watching. Our children are watching. And history will record whether we were protectors of their future—or destroyers of the past.

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She Is America. She Still Stands. Let’s Make Sure She Always Does.

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History will remember the brave—lets be the ink that writes her future. 

 

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