Press Release
Posted:
Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement after Governor Gavin Newsom signed Mare Island National Cemetery Transfer Documents.
“I have fought for the better part of a decade to see the Mare Island Cemetery restored to the level of dignity and solemnity it deserves. There are nearly a thousand servicemembers buried there, including three Medal of Honor recipients, and the transfer I initiated in Congress five years ago should proceed as rapidly as possible,” said Thompson. “The Governor’s signature brings us one step closer to ensuring that the Mare Island National Cemetery is properly cared for and preserved for generations to come.”
First introduced in 2018, Thompson's legislation directed 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 will specifically be placed under the purview of the National Cemetery Administration. The VA will pay no fee to acquire the land, but will assume the obligation of maintaining the cemetery in the future. That bill became law on January 1, 2021 and you can click here to read text of the legislation.