Bill > SCR37

This Concurrent Resolution expresses support for naming a United States Navy surface combatant ship after Fireman Second Class Telesforo Trinidad, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. The resolution highlights Trinidad's extraordinary heroism in 1915 when he saved shipmates during boiler explosions aboard the USS San Diego, despite being injured himself. It emphasizes that Trinidad remains the only Asian American and Filipino American to have received this prestigious award, and that naming a ship in his honor would promote diversity and inclusion within the Navy, especially during a time of increased anti-Asian sentiment. Furthermore, the resolution notes that such a naming would coincide with significant anniversaries of diplomatic and defense relations between the United States and the Philippines, and would honor the long history of service by Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the U.S. Navy, marking the first Navy ship named after an American of Filipino descent. The resolution also mentions that Navy ships are traditionally named by the Secretary of the Navy, with Congressional input, and that members of Congress have already advocated for this naming.