[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 265 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 265

Commending the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program on its 50th Anniversary 
 and expressing the sense of the Senate regarding continuation of the 
                     program into the 21st century.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 31, 1998

Mr. Warner submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Commending the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program on its 50th Anniversary 
 and expressing the sense of the Senate regarding continuation of the 
                     program into the 21st century.

Whereas in 1948, Admiral (then Captain) Hyman G. Rickover first assembled his 
        team of Navy professionals, other Government professionals, and 
        contractor professionals that would adapt the relatively new technology 
        of atomic energy to design and build the United States' fleet of 
        nuclear-powered warships;
Whereas over the next seven years, Admiral Rickover and his team developed an 
        industrial base in a new technology, pioneered new materials, designed 
        and built a prototype reactor, established a training program, and took 
        the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, the U.S.S. Nautilus, to sea 
        thus ensuring America's undersea superiority;
Whereas since 1955, when the U.S.S. Nautilus first sailed, the Navy has put to 
        sea 209 nuclear-powered ships whose propulsion plants have given the 
        Navy unparalleled mobility, flexibility, and, additionally for 
        submarines, stealth, with an outstanding record of safety;
Whereas during its 50 years of existence, the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program 
        has developed, built, and managed the operation of 246 nuclear reactors 
        of more than 30 different designs with a combined total of 4,900 reactor 
        years of operation, thereby leading the world in reactor construction, 
        servicing, and operational experience;
Whereas since its inception, the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program has trained 
        over 90,000 reactor operators and the Navy's nuclear-powered warships 
        have achieved over 113,000,000 miles of safe steaming on nuclear power; 
        and
Whereas nuclear energy now propels more than 40 percent of the Navy's major 
        combatant vessels and these nuclear-powered warships are accepted 
        without reservation by over 50 countries and territories into 150 ports: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the Senate commends the past and present personnel of 
        the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program for the technical 
        excellence, accomplishment, and oversight demonstrated in the 
        program and congratulates those personnel for the 50 years of 
        exemplary service that has been provided to the United States 
        through the program; and
            (2) it is the sense of the Senate that the Naval Nuclear 
        Propulsion Program should be continued into the next millennium 
        to provide exemplary technical accomplishment in, and oversight 
        of, Naval nuclear propulsion plants and to continue to be a 
        model of technical excellence in the United States and the 
        world.
                                 <all>