[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 458 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 458

Designating April 11, 2018, as the ``Sesquicentennial of Connecticut's 
                          Navy Installation''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 11, 2018

  Mr. Blumenthal (for himself and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating April 11, 2018, as the ``Sesquicentennial of Connecticut's 
                          Navy Installation''.

Whereas the Navy Installation of Connecticut, regarded as Naval Submarine Base 
        New London, had its beginning as a naval yard and storage depot on April 
        11, 1868;
Whereas the people of Connecticut made the installation possible when a deed of 
        gift from the State of Connecticut and city of New London was signed, 
        conveyed, and presented to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles;
Whereas the Navy Installation of Connecticut was first used for laying up 
        inactive ships, then for refueling small naval ships traveling through 
        the waters of New England, and ultimately as the first submarine base of 
        the United States Navy;
Whereas October 18, 1915, marked the arrival at the Navy Installation of 
        Connecticut of the submarines G-1, G-2, and G-4 under the care of the 
        tender USS Ozark (Monitor No. 7), soon followed by the arrival of 
        submarines E-1, D-1, and D-3 under the care of the tender USS Tonopah 
        (Monitor No. 8), and on November 2, 1915, the arrival of the first ship 
        built as a submarine tender, the USS Fulton (AS-1);
Whereas, on June 21, 1916, Commander Yates Stirling, Jr., assumed the command of 
        the newly designated Naval Submarine Base New London, the New London 
        Submarine Flotilla, and the Submarine School;
Whereas the property of Naval Submarine Base New London expanded during the 
        course of the involvement of the United States in World War I, with 
        Congress approving more than $1,000,000 for real estate and facilities 
        expansion, which created 81 buildings to support 1,400 men and 20 
        submarines by the end of World War I;
Whereas the second largest expansion of Naval Submarine Base New London occurred 
        during World War II when the submarine force exponentially grew in size, 
        and the installation enlarged from 112 acres to 497 acres to accommodate 
        the thousands of personnel that serviced the growing fleet;
Whereas the nuclear power age following World War II ushered technological 
        advancements in submarine development with the advent of nuclear powered 
        submarines and the arrival of the USS Nautilus (SSN-571), the first 
        nuclear powered vessel in the world, when it was commissioned in 1954 at 
        Naval Submarine Base New London;
Whereas the USS George Washington (SSBN-598), the first nuclear ballistic 
        submarine of the United States Navy, created further changes at Naval 
        Submarine Base New London when it was commissioned there in 1959;
Whereas, in 2018, Naval Submarine Base New London extends along the east side of 
        the Thames River, occupies approximately 687 acres, and houses more than 
        160 major facilities and more than 15 nuclear submarines;
Whereas Naval Submarine Base New London supports fleet readiness by providing 
        quality service and facilities to its fleet, fighters, and families;
Whereas the mission of Naval Submarine Base New London is--

    (1) to homeport and put submarines to sea; and

    (2) to support the Submarine Center of Excellence, which trains 
submariners to take submarines to sea;

Whereas nearly every submariner in the United States Navy will be stationed at 
        Naval Submarine Base New London for training, with a potential tour of 
        duty in one of the attack submarines homeported at the installation, or 
        with a pre-commissioning unit for a new submarine under construction at 
        General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut;
Whereas Naval Submarine Base New London is home to more than 70 tenant commands 
        and activities including--

    (1) the Undersea Warfighting Development Center;

    (2) the Submarine Learning Center;

    (3) the Naval Submarine School;

    (4) the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory; and

    (5) the Naval Undersea Medical Institute;

Whereas Naval Submarine Base New London is one of the largest employers in 
        southeastern Connecticut and employs more than 9,500 active duty, 
        reserve, and civilian personnel; and
Whereas Naval Submarine Base New London will always be regarded as the first 
        submarine base of the United States Navy and the home of the submarine 
        force: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates April 11, 2018, as the ``Sesquicentennial of 
        Connecticut's Navy Installation'';
            (2) commends the longstanding dedication and contribution 
        to the Navy by the people of Connecticut, both through the 
        initial deed of gift that established the Navy Installation of 
        Connecticut, and through their ongoing commitment to support 
        the mission and people assigned to the installation, presently 
        known as Naval Submarine Base New London;
            (3) honors the sailors and submariners who have trained and 
        served at the Navy Installation of Connecticut throughout its 
        150-year history in support of the naval and undersea 
        superiority of the United States;
            (4) recognizes the indispensable role Naval Submarine Base 
        New London plays in fortifying the national security of the 
        United States at a time when adversaries seek to challenge the 
        United States; and
            (5) pledges continued support for the operation of Naval 
        Submarine Base New London for years to come.
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