[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H11546-H11547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       COMMENDING OPERATION SAIL

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 64) to commend 
Operation Sail for its advancement of brotherhood among nations, its 
continuing commemoration of the history of the United States, and its 
nurturing of young cadets through training in seamanship, and ask for 
its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate joint resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  Ms. DeLAURO. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I yield to 
the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] for an explanation of the 
legislation.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, this resolution commends Operation Sail for 
its advancement of international cooperation among nations, for its 
continuing commemoration of the history of the United States and its 
contribution to the training of young cadets in the skills of 
seamanship.
  The bill encourages all Americans and citizens of the world to join 
in the celebration of the 224th birthday of the United States.
  Equally important, it encourages continued American participation in 
the international tall ship community and in tall ship events across 
the United States and the world.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my Republican 
colleague's request to pass Senate Joint Resolution 64 by unanimous 
consent request. Senate Joint Resolution 64 is a bipartisan resolution 
honoring the Operation Sail Organization and OpSail 2000, an 
international gathering of tall ships that will take place in New York 
Harbor to celebrate the 224th birthday of the United States and to 
welcome the new millennium.
  This glorious event follows the tradition of the previous OpSail 
events: OpSail '76 which celebrated the bicentennial of the Nation; 
OpSail '86 which celebrated the centennial of the Statue of Liberty; 
and, OpSail '92 which celebrated the 500th anniversary of Columbus' 
discovery of North America. Operation Sail has worked in cooperation 
with every President of the United States since John F. Kennedy, and 
all OpSail events have been endorsed by the President of the United 
States at that time.
  OpSail 2000 is expected to be the largest gathering of tall ships in 
history, and it will foster international good will and the advancement 
of brotherhood among nations. In addition, OpSail 2000 will showcase 
the beautiful Connecticut coast of the Long Island Sound for all the 
world to see. We look forward to this exciting even of which all 
Americans can be proud.
  Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I yield to the 
gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Shays].
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, just to add my voice to this resolution, it 
is truly bipartisan, Mr. Dodd and Mr. D'Amato in the Senate and others, 
and just to say that this is an exciting opportunity for this country.

[[Page H11547]]

  Operation Sail expects the largest gathering of tall sailing ships 
ever to be assembled, and I thank my colleague from New York for 
helping to bring this out.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate joint resolution, as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 64

       Whereas Operation Sail is a nonprofit corporation dedicated 
     to building good will among nations and encouraging 
     international camaraderie;
       Whereas Operation Sail has represented and promoted the 
     United States of America in the international tall ship 
     community since 1964, organizing and participating in 
     numerous tall ship events across the United States and around 
     the world;
       Whereas Operation Sail has worked in partnership with every 
     American President since President John F. Kennedy;
       Whereas Operation Sail has established a great tradition of 
     celebrating major events and milestones in United States 
     history with a gathering of the world's tall ships, and will 
     continue this great tradition with a gathering of ships in 
     New York Harbor, called OpSail 2000, to celebrate the 224th 
     birthday of the United States of America and to welcome the 
     new millennium;
       Whereas President Clinton has endorsed OpSail 2000, as 
     Presidents Kennedy, Carter, Reagan, and Bush have endorsed 
     Operation Sail in previous endeavors;
       Whereas OpSail 2000 promises to be the largest gathering in 
     history of tall ships and other majestic vessels like those 
     that have sailed the ocean for centuries;
       Whereas in conjunction with OpSail 2000, the United States 
     Navy will conduct an International Naval Review; and
       Whereas the International Naval Review will include a naval 
     aircraft carrier as a symbol of the international good will 
     of the United States of America: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That--
       (1) Operation Sail is commended for its advancement of 
     brotherhood among nations, its continuing commemoration of 
     the history of the United States, and its nurturing of young 
     cadets through training in seamanship;
       (2) all Americans and citizens of nations around the world 
     are encouraged to join in the celebration of the 224th 
     birthday of the United States of America and the 
     international camaraderie that Operation Sail and the 
     International Naval Review will foster; and
       (3) Operation Sail is encouraged to continue into the next 
     millennium to represent and promote the United States of 
     America in the international tall ship community, and to 
     continue organizing and participating in tall ship events 
     across the United States and around the world.

  The Senate joint resolution was ordered to be read a third time, was 
read a third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on 
the table.

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