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JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF THE NAVY TO TRANSFER THE USS JOHN F. KENNEDY TO THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION "JFK FOR ME" FOR THE PURPOSE OF LOCATING THE SHIP IN PORTLAND HARBOR
WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the Second Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the Secretary of the Navy as follows:
WHEREAS, the USS John F. Kennedy, CV-67, is a decommissioned supercarrier of the United States Navy and named after the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy; and
WHEREAS,  the late President Kennedy was a beloved figure not only in Maine and New England, but throughout the Nation; and
WHEREAS,  after nearly 40 years of service in the United States Navy, the USS John F. Kennedy was officially decommissioned on August 1, 2007; and
WHEREAS,  the United States Navy is willing to give the ship to a nonprofit organization pursuant to federal laws and regulations as long as the nonprofit organization has the support of a host city; and
WHEREAS,  the USS John F. Kennedy Museum Committee, also known as "JFK for ME," is a nonprofit organization in Maine established for the sole purpose of obtaining ownership of the USS John F. Kennedy and relocating it to the City of Portland; and
WHEREAS,  JFK for ME proposes to undertake this task at no expense to the taxpayers of Maine; and
WHEREAS,  other communities throughout the country have become host cities for retired naval vessels; and
WHEREAS,  those retired vessels have served as successful tourist attractions and places for public use and enjoyment such as museums, historic sites, conference centers and similar uses; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and request that the United States Secretary of the Navy authorize the transfer of the USS John F. Kennedy for the purpose of establishing that ship in Portland Harbor; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Ray Mabus, United States Secretary of the Navy, and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.