The secretary of the Navy has been asked to charge the USS Missouri Memorial Association only a nominal rent for use of a portion of Pearl Harbor.

The request comes from Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who said yesterday in a news release issued by his Washington office that the nonprofit group currently pays a monthly rent of $17,300, or $207,600 a year.

Abercrombie said the association is doing the country "a great service" by providing access to the Missouri.

"The USS Missouri Memorial Association needs financial support, as it depends primarily on admission fees and donations to welcome 400,000 visitors annually on the battleship," Abercrombie said.

"The Battleship Missouri Memorial is of no cost to the federal government and is free of charge for special military events such as re-enlistments," the Hawai'i Democrat said. "Yet, the association pays a monthly rent of $17,300 while maintaining the battleship in accordance with Navy material standards, including high-cost repairs to preserve the hull."