[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 87 (Friday, July 1, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  COMMAND OF U.S.S. ``JOHN S. McCAIN''

  Mr. NUNN. Madam President, tomorrow at the highly accomplished 
shipyard at Bath Iron Works in Bath, ME, a very important ceremony will 
take place. We will have two of our Senators there, two members of the 
Armed Services Committee, Senator Cohen and Senator McCain. The 
ceremony taking place is the commissioning of the Aegis destroyer, the 
John S. McCain.
  This is the second major naval combatant named in honor of the McCain 
family, which includes three great Navy heroes: Our own distinguished 
colleague, Senator John S. McCain; his father, John S. McCain, Jr.; and 
his grandfather, Admiral John S. McCain. Admiral McCain, Jr. and 
Admiral McCain, Sr. will be the names the ship will bear.
  The ship will be appropriately homeported in Pearl Harbor in the 
Pacific where all three McCains served with such great distinction.
  The senior Adm. John S. McCain served as a carrier task force 
commander in World War II; his son Adm. John S. McCain, Jr., was 
Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command. His son, retired Navy 
captain and now U.S. Senator John S. McCain fought in the Vietnam 
conflict and, we all know, was shot down and was a prisoner of war.
  Cindy McCain is the sponsor of the ship. I know an impressive 
contingent from the Senate will join her and her husband at this 
exciting event for the McCain family, marking an important addition to 
our defense capability.
  I know all my colleagues in the Senate join me in saluting the McCain 
family, sending our best wishes and congratulations on this important 
occasion and wishing the U.S.S. John S. McCain (DDG-56) ``fair winds 
and following seas.''
  I know we will all be with them tomorrow in spirit.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam President, I thank the distinguished chairman for 
his comments.
  I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at the launching of the 
U.S.S. John S. McCain at the Bath Iron Works, Maine's largest employer, 
and one of the greatest contributors to the national defense with an 
outstanding record of superb shipbuilding for over a century.
  In the 15 years I have served in the Senate, I have attended all but 
one of every launching and commissioning that has happened at the Bath 
Iron Works. I regret very much I will be unable to attend tomorrow's 
commissioning because I will be in a meeting of the Senate Finance 
Committee at which time we are marking up the health care bill.
  I assure my colleagues and my friends at Bath Iron Works I would much 
prefer to be in Bath tomorrow, but that will not be possible.
  We hope to complete action on the health care bill in the Finance 
Committee tomorrow.
  So I extend my best wishes to all concerned and my congratulations 
especially to our colleague and friend, Senator McCain.
  Mr. NUNN. Madam President, I believe Senator Thurmond maybe would 
like to make a statement now and we have a number of cleared 
amendments, and then we are about to wind this one down.
  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, will the Senator from South Carolina 
yield?
  Mr. THURMOND. I am pleased to yield.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan [Mr. Levin] is 
recognized.

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