[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 315 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 315

 Commending the service of Hamilton-class Coast Guard cutters and the 
                 officers and crew who served on them.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 22, 2021

 Mr. Wicker (for himself, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
Sullivan, Mr. Cassidy, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

                           September 14, 2021

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commending the service of Hamilton-class Coast Guard cutters and the 
                 officers and crew who served on them.

Whereas the first Hamilton-class cutter was the United States Coast Guard Cutter 
        (referred to in this preamble as ``USCGC'') Hamilton, which was placed 
        in full commission on March 18, 1967;
Whereas USCGC Mellon, USCGC Chase, USCGC Dallas, USCGC Boutwell, USCGC Sherman, 
        USCGC Gallatin, USCGC Morgenthau, USCGC Rush, USCGC Munro, USCGC 
        Midgett, and USCGC Jarvis completed the class of high endurance cutters 
        and were 1 of the most highly versatile and capable vessels at the time 
        of their construction at Avondale Shipyards in Louisiana;
Whereas Hamilton-class cutters courageously supported multiple peacetime and 
        wartime operations during their time in active service, including 
        Operation Market Time, Operation Urgent Fury, Operation Vigilant 
        Sentinel, Operation Deny Flight, and Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas Hamilton-class cutters conducted illegal narcotics interdictions 
        totaling 3,300,000 pounds and $23,600,000,000 in market value, including 
        the interdiction conducted by USCGC Hamilton and USCGC Sherman of the M/
        V Gatun, which discovered 20 metric tons of illegal narcotics with an 
        estimated street value of $600,000,000 for the largest narcotics 
        interdiction in United States history at the time;
Whereas Hamilton-class cutters have saved thousands of lives during search and 
        rescue operations at sea, including the rescue conducted by USCGC 
        Boutwell and USCGC Mellon of all 520 passengers and crew of the M/S 
        Prinsendam, 1 of the largest at-sea rescues in Coast Guard history;
Whereas Hamilton-class cutters received excellent shoreside support at Coast 
        Guard homeports in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, 
        South Carolina, and Washington, allowing the cutters to perform 
        admirably past their service life;
Whereas the Mississippi-built National Security Cutter replaced the Hamilton-
        class cutter to continue the storied success of high endurance Coast 
        Guard cutters at sea;
Whereas USCGC Douglas Munro, formerly known as USCGC Munro, decommissioned on 
        April 24, 2021, ending over 54 years of service of Hamilton-class 
        cutters to the United States;
Whereas Coast Guard cutters remain a vital component of United States capability 
        across the globe in serving to protect life at sea, deterring illicit 
        activity, and ensuring the continuance of the international rules-based 
        order at all levels of the competition continuum;
Whereas the increasing global complexity and expanding demand for Coast Guard 
        services necessitates the best people, modern technology, resilient 
        infrastructure, and highly capable assets; and
Whereas Congress must recognize the importance of maximizing afloat readiness 
        for the Coast Guard by supporting personnel, investing in mission-
        enabling technologies, and modernizing assets: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the success of the Hamilton-class cutters in 
        service to the United States;
            (2) commends the officers and crew of Hamilton-class 
        cutters for their technical excellence, accomplishments, 
        professionalism, and sacrifices;
            (3) supports the role of Coast Guard cutters and their 
        importance to national security, law enforcement at sea, and 
        homeland defense; and
            (4) applauds the Coast Guard for continuing to advance the 
        capabilities of the fleet with the National Security Cutter to 
        adapt to the growing need for a global Coast Guard presence.
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