WASHINGTON - Congressman George Miller (D-Martinez) announced today that the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historic Park in Richmond will get a significant boost in funding this year to continue the planning and technical development of this nationally significant historic site.

Miller, who worked with civic and political leaders in Richmond to pass his bill last year to create the historic park, said that the Interior Department funding bill for national parks and public lands passed by Congress and signed into law Monday evening would increase funding for the park by 150% over the amount it received last year.

The historic park will receive $181,000 for day-to-day operations, an increase of $66,000 over last year’s budget. In addition, the park will receive $95,000 to start planning for new exhibits and interpretive facilities to represent the authentic experience of the American Home Front to park visitors.

“I am proud that Congress and the National Park Service recognized the importance of preserving the history of the contributions and sacrifices that the people and city of Richmond made to the WWII Home Front effort,” said Miller. “With additional planning money for new exhibits and facilities, this park will more quickly enable present and future generations to appreciate the victorious efforts of women, minorities, veterans and our great city during WWII.”

Earlier this year, Congress voted to increase funding for national parks. And last month, Miller called on the Director of the National Park Service to use a portion of the new money to boost funding for the key Rosie the Riveter park services, as recommended in a feasibility study of the park conducted last year.

The Kaiser shipyards and other wartime industrial and community sites in Richmond became the site of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in October, 2000, when Miller’s legislation to establish the park was signed by President Clinton. Miller has worked closely on this effort with Richmond Mayor Rosemary Corbin, City Councilman Tom Butt, former City Councilwoman Donna Powers, project director Donna Graves, Ray Murray of the National Park Service, and others.

Richmond was selected for the park because it has many intact buildings that were constructed for 56 wartime industries. Its four shipyards produced 747 large ships and set war-time production records. The Home Front changed Richmond from a predominantly white community of 23,600 residents to a diverse population of over 100,000 people within a year. Industries operated around the clock, leading to the creation of public housing, schools, day care centers, health care and additional commerce to support the new workforce that arrived on the city’s doorstep.

Miller noted that the designation is part of a broader effort to preserve and commemorate key sites that played a significant part in American history.

“Preservation is not only for parks and wilderness areas,” said Miller, a member of the House Resources Committee. “We are also committed to preserving historic sites, like the buildings and structures that will comprise the Rosie the Riveter/Home Front National Historical Park, sites that tell the story of the brave women and men who played such a crucial role in winning the war.

“I deeply appreciate the enthusiastic and ongoing support of the National Park Service for this effort in Richmond and I look forward to continuing to work with them to make this project a great success.”