SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING THE DISPOSITION OF SUBMARINE NR–1.

SEC. 1024. SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING THE DISPOSITION OF SUBMARINE NR–1.(a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings:(1) The Deep Submergence Vessel NR–1 (hereinafter in this section referred to as “NR–1”) was built by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut, entered service in 1969, and was the only nuclear-powered research submersible in the United States Navy.(2) NR–1 was assigned to Naval Submarine Base New London, located in Groton, Connecticut, throughout her entire service life.(3) NR–1 was inactivated in December 2008.(4) Due to the unique capabilities of NR–1, it conducted numerous missions of significant military and scientific value most notably in the fields of geological survey and oceanographic research.(5) In 1986, NR–1 played a key role in the search for and recovery of the Space Shuttle Challenger.123 STAT. 2448(6) The mission of the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut, is to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of the United States Naval Submarine Force in order to honor veterans and to educate naval personnel and the public in the heritage and traditions of the Submarine Force.(7) NR–1 is a unique and irreplaceable part of the history of the Navy and the Submarine Force and an educational and historical asset that should be shared with the Nation and the world.(b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—(1) NR–1 is a unique and irreplaceable part of the Nation’s history and as much of the vessel as possible should be preserved for the historical and educational benefit of all Americans at the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut; and(2) the Secretary of the Navy should ensure that as much of the vessel as possible, including unique components of on-board equipment and clearly recognizable sections of the hull and superstructure, to the full extent practicable, are made available for transfer to the Submarine Force Library and Museum.