09/26/2015
South Carolina General Assembly
120th Session, 2013-2014
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
H. 4779
STATUS INFORMATION
Joint Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Daning, Sottile, Whipper, Crosby, Merrill, Horne, Murphy, Rivers, Gilliard, Jefferson, Limehouse, R.L. Brown, Mack and McCoy
Document Path: l:\council\bills\nbd\11315ac14.docx
Introduced in the House on February 25, 2014
Currently residing in the House Committee on Ways and Means
Summary: USS Clamagore submarine
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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2/25/2014 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 30)
2/25/2014 House Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
(House Journal-page 30)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
2/25/2014
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A JOINT RESOLUTION
TO PROHIBIT, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2015, PATRIOTS POINT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FROM SELLING, DONATING, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSING OF THE USS CLAMAGORE SUBMARINE, WHICH IS A VESSEL IN THE PATRIOTS POINT NAVAL AND MARITIME MUSEUM FLEET AND WHICH IS THE ONLY NAVY SUBMARINE OF ITS TYPE IN THE UNITED STATES.
Whereas, the Patriots Point Development Authority oversees the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, which has the USS Yorktown and other retired vessels and aircraft as the centerpieces of the museum; and
Whereas, among the vessels at the museum is the United States Navy's USS Clamagore, built as a Balao-class submarine, it was commissioned in 1945, too late for action in WWII, so it was updated and in service for thirty years and used as a surveillance vessel during the Cold War. Tours of the vessel offer stark evidence of the difficult conditions submariners faced during that period when they provided a front line against potential Soviet aggression; and
Whereas, during its service the Clamagore underwent GUPPY II and III conversions to improve its performance and accommodate upgrades in technology. It was only one of nine boats to undergo the GUPPY III conversion, and according to the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, the Clamagore is the only surviving GUPPY III submarine in the United States; and
Whereas, the Clamagore was decommissioned in 1975 and arrived at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in 1981 as a museum ship. In June 1989, the USS Clamagore was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark; and
Whereas, Patriots Point has become one of South Carolina's most popular tourist attractions having more than 270,000 visitors each year, and, according to the Legislative Audit Council report of Patriots Point Development Authority, the Clamagore is the museum's second most popular exhibit; and
Whereas, in recent times the Clamagore has been allowed to deteriorate and is now in need of critical repairs, funding for which has not been provided by the Patriots Point Development Authority, but has been undertaken by the Clamagore Restoration and Maintenance Association and is still underway; and
Whereas, the destruction of the USS Clamagore appears imminent based on the Patriots Point Development Authority plan to sell this historical United States Navy submarine to be sunk and used as an artificial reef, unless additional time is allowed to raise the Clamagore's repair funds. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Through June 30, 2015, the Patriots Point Development Authority must not sell, donate, or otherwise dispose of the USS Clamagore, a 1945 Navy submarine that is the only remaining GUPPY III submarine in the United States, and since 1981, it has been an essential vessel and has provided value at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum.
SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
