[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 720 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 720

 Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Rock Island Arsenal and the 
   men and women who currently and have previously worked on Arsenal 
                                Island.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 29, 2012

 Mr. Loebsack (for himself and Mr. Schilling) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Rock Island Arsenal and the 
   men and women who currently and have previously worked on Arsenal 
                                Island.

Whereas the island on which Rock Island Arsenal is located was first identified 
        as a Federal military reservation by an Act of Congress in 1809;
Whereas in 1852, Quartermaster-General Thomas Jesup wrote to Secretary of War 
        Charles M. Conrad that the site of Fort Armstrong, Rock Island, was one 
        of the most valuable in our western country for an armory;
Whereas in 1861--

    (1) leading citizens of Davenport, Iowa; Rock Island, Illinois; and 
Moline, Illinois, presented the Congress with a pamphlet arguing for 
placement of an arsenal and armory on the island; and

    (2) the Iowa Legislature urged the Congress to establish an arsenal on 
the island;

Whereas a national arsenal was first established on the island on July 11, 1862, 
        under an Act signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln;
Whereas the Chief of Ordnance ordered Rock Island Arsenal to begin manufacturing 
        infantry and cavalry equipment on July 19, 1875;
Whereas, on March 10, 1899, the Congress passed an Act establishing a small arms 
        manufacturing center at Rock Island Arsenal;
Whereas, on March 22, 1903, Rock Island Arsenal workers formed Local 81 of the 
        International Association of Machinists and are today represented by the 
        American Federation of Government Employees;
Whereas in 1923, Rock Island Arsenal became one of the first locations in the 
        United States to develop an effective method of welding aluminum;
Whereas in 1931, Rock Island Arsenal constructed the first half-track combat 
        vehicle based on a General Motors truck;
Whereas Rock Island Arsenal manufactured the prototype for the lightweight 105mm 
        Howitzer in 1961;
Whereas in 1969, Rock Island Arsenal was placed on the National Register of 
        Historic Places;
Whereas since 2004, the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center has fielded 
        over 45,000 add-on-armor kits for 6 different platforms and over 15 
        variants to support deployed servicemembers;
Whereas, on June 16, 2008, Rock Island Arsenal completed the 1,000th Forward 
        Repair System;
Whereas today Rock Island Arsenal is home to more than 70 tenants representing 
        diverse areas within the United States Army, the Department of Defense, 
        the Department of Homeland Security, and the private sector;
Whereas today, Rock Island Arsenal is--

    (1) the Nation's largest Government-owned and Government-operated 
arsenal;

    (2) the United States Army's only remaining foundry;

    (3) the only multi-purpose and vertically integrated metal manufacturer 
in the Department of Defense; and

    (4) home to the United States Army's only titanium furnace;

Whereas over its 150 years of service as an arsenal, the Rock Island Arsenal has 
        supported United States military personnel around the world;
Whereas, throughout its history, the men and women employed at Rock Island 
        Arsenal have demonstrated tremendous dedication to our men and women in 
        uniform by producing the equipment our Nation's deployed servicemembers 
        require to safely carry out their mission;
Whereas over the 150 years since its establishment, the Rock Island Arsenal has 
        substantially impacted the economy, growth, culture, and vibrancy of the 
        Quad Cities;
Whereas the bi-state support in Iowa and Illinois for Rock Island Arsenal 
        demonstrated since before its founding continues today;
Whereas the Rock Island Arsenal continues to provide critical Government-owned, 
        Government-operated manufacturing capabilities for the United States 
        Army and Department of Defense;
Whereas the Rock Island Arsenal continues to be a centerpiece of the Quad Cities 
        economy by--

    (1) boosting job creation and economic development throughout the bi-
state region in Iowa and Illinois; and

    (2) supporting and enhancing advanced manufacturing capabilities in the 
region through public-private partnerships; and

Whereas the manufacturing capabilities and experienced workforce at Rock Island 
        Arsenal will continue to be critical to our national defense and 
        readiness of the United States Army to respond to a national security 
        emergency: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 150th anniversary of the Rock Island 
        Arsenal;
            (2) honors the critical role Rock Island Arsenal and its 
        workforce have played in our national defense and in equipping 
        our men and women in uniform throughout its 150-year history;
            (3) recognizes the ongoing importance of maintaining and 
        enhancing the Government-owned and Government-operated 
        manufacturing capabilities provided by Rock Island Arsenal to 
        the United States Army and to our national defense;
            (4) appreciates the active role Rock Island Arsenal has 
        played in job creation, economic development, and support of 
        advanced manufacturing capabilities in the Quad Cities and in 
        the region throughout its history; and
            (5) encourages the people of the United States to 
        commemorate and honor the role and contribution of Rock Island 
        Arsenal to our national defense and to our men and women in 
        uniform on the occasion of its 150th anniversary.
                                 <all>