[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 82 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1201-E1203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        BUILDING A MARITIME TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 1997

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, in my role as an administrative cochair of 
the bipartisan National Security Caucus, I had the honor of 
participating in a very special awards luncheon last week. I was joined 
by the House Democratic Leader, Congressman Richard Gephardt, and my 
fellow Caucus cochair, Congressman Randy ``Duke'' Cunningham, in 
presenting the 1997 International Security Leadership Award to U.S. 
Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton.
  The luncheon was attended by over 200 representatives of the national 
security community, and the establishment of a John H. Dalton 
Congressional Fellowship in Maritime Strategy Studies was also 
announced. The International Security Leadership Award has been 
presented to only one individual each year since 1979, and all of the 
past recipients have made significant contributions to the national 
security interests of the United States. Past honorees include 
President George Bush, Secretary of Defense William Perry, Ambassador 
Jeane Kirkpatrick, and Senator John C. Stennis. John Dalton is a worthy 
addition to the distinguished list.
  The award was presented to Secretary Dalton ``* * * in recognition of 
his leadership, courage and vision in promoting American sea power and 
a national maritime strategy. The outstanding performance of the U.S. 
Navy from the Caribbean to the Persian Gulf, in missions as diverse as 
evacuating non-combatants to enforcing no-fly zones, is a tribute to 
Secretary Dalton's tremendous dedication and distinguished service to 
the Navy and Marine Corps and to the nation they serve.'' The award was 
conferred on Secretary Dalton on behalf of the 290 lawmakers in the 
bipartisan National Security Caucus.
  As someone who has the privilege of knowing John Dalton for more than 
20 years, I want to once again emphasize how deserving I feel he is of 
this honor for his fine work as Secretary of the Navy. The Secretary's 
remarks at the presentation ceremony described in considerable detail 
some of the tremendous work he has done to make our Navy more effective 
and efficient. Also, Mr. Gephardt's introductory comments lucidly 
describe why Secretary Dalton is so deserving of his award. I ask 
unanimous consent to have both Mr. Gephardt's and Secretary Dalton's 
remarks entered in the Congressional Record.

Statement of House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt--Presentation 
 of the International Security Leadership Award to Navy Secretary John 
                                 Dalton

       I am pleased to join you today to give tribute to Secretary 
     of the Navy John Dalton. I

[[Page E1202]]

     have known Secretary Dalton for many years, and consider him 
     to be both a close friend and among the finest Navy 
     Secretaries our nation has ever had. It doesn't suprise me, 
     therefore, that the National Security Caucus has selected him 
     to be its 1997 recipient of the International Security 
     Leadership Award. He truly deserves to join the ranks of the 
     finest military thinkers our nation has been fortunate to 
     have in public service over the last two decades.
       John has served with energy, conviction and dedication at a 
     challenging time for our government, the Defense Department, 
     and the Navy. With the end of the Cold War, many have 
     naturally turned more attention to the domestic challenges we 
     face as a nation. We have also focused on efforts to reduce 
     the federal budget deficit, asking all to sacrifice--
     including our men and women in uniform.
       In the midst of these new challenges, John Dalton has 
     ensured that the Navy remains a national priority. Among his 
     most significant contributions has been to develop a 
     comprehensive and bipartisan national maritime strategy.
       With the encouragement and support of the National Security 
     Caucus and the entire maritime industry, Secretary Dalton has 
     taken on the difficult task of integrating our naval 
     requirements with our broader maritime capabilities and 
     needs.
       He has understood that the key to our nation's military 
     strength is a vital and sustainable maritime infrastructure. 
     Just as he has seen that our most important naval asset is 
     the people who wear the Navy uniform, he has understood that 
     the most important elements of our maritime infrastructure 
     are people--shipyard workers, commercial seafarers, merchant 
     fleet operators, and many others who make America the 
     maritime nation that it is today.
       Secretary Dalton, as well as many of us in Congress and 
     many of you here, used this vision of America's maritime 
     strength to secure enactment of the Maritime Security Act 
     last year.
       Secretary Dalton has also led the Navy in its efforts to 
     capitalize on new technologies. These technologies not only 
     improve our warfighting capabilities, but also enhance our 
     competitiveness in the global maritime industry. I have 
     witnessed his dedication to this goal first-hand, as he 
     brought the latest generation of F-18 Hornet aircraft into 
     production, using new technologies that have both military 
     and commercial applications.
       With this leadership, John Dalton has truly demonstrated a 
     compelling vision of what it will take for our nation to 
     remain the greatest sea power in history. It is therefore 
     fitting that he will give the Paul Hall Memorial Lecture 
     today. Paul Hall was a seafarer's seafarer, and knew that to 
     be a sea power, America must have a strong merchant marine. 
     Through his actions and accomplishments, John Dalton has 
     shown the same commitment to this goal, and has moved our 
     nation closer to achieving it.
       It therefore gives me great pleasure to present to John 
     Dalton the 1997 International Security Leadership Award.
                                  ____



     Remarks by The Honorable John H. Dalton, Secretary of the Navy


                        BUILDING A MARITIME TEAM

       Thank you very much, Dick (Gephardt). Distinguished Senate 
     and House members of the National Security Caucus . . . The 
     University of Southern California Paul Hall Memorial 
     Endowment . . . members of the maritime community . . . 
     ladies and gentlemen . . .
       It is a great honor to be here on behalf of the Department 
     of the Navy. I want to thank the National Security Caucus 
     Foundation for this very special award. Frankly, I am in awe. 
     The list of previous award winners is truly distinguished. 
     Having earned the confidence of the bi-partisan and highly 
     respected National Security Caucus is indeed very meaningful 
     to me. But I must say that this award truly belongs to the 
     Department of the Navy--to our Sailors, Marines, and 
     civilians that make our force the finest the world has ever 
     known.
       I also want to thank the National Security Caucus 
     Foundation for the generous endowment of the maritime 
     fellowship program in my name. This prestigious fellowship 
     will help both inform and focus a generation of 
     decisionmakers on the importance of maintaining and expanding 
     America's maritime traditions. It is indeed my high honor to 
     lend my name to this program.
       One of the great concerns upon receiving an honor such as 
     this is that one must keep humility in the proper 
     perspective. I assure you that I have been well-trained on 
     this point by the First Lady of the Navy, my wife Margaret.
       I must say again what a great honor it is to be here . . . 
     to follow in the footsteps of some of our shipbuilding and 
     maritime industry greats . . . and surrounded by the legacy 
     of Paul Hall. Paul Hall was a true American--in the most 
     traditional sense. He knew right from wrong--and he fought to 
     make things right.
       Paul Hall ``walked the walk'' . . . and he fought the 
     fights from the waterfront to the halls of Congress. He stood 
     firm, took a stand, and, in the process, helped to build an 
     American institution. Paul Hall lived the Teddy Roosevelt 
     adage that
       ``Far and away the best prize that life offers is the 
     chance to work hard at work worth doing.''
       I am indeed honored--and humbled--to be associated with his 
     legacy.
       Let me begin my remarks with a few thoughts on the state of 
     the Department of the Navy.
       Thanks to many of you gathered here today--and in 
     particular, those members of Congress on the appropriations 
     and authorization committees--our Navy and Marine Corps are 
     second to none. Operationally, programmatically, and in 
     personnel, the Navy-Marine Corps team is answering all bells. 
     The Department is focused and efficient, and we are operating 
     forward to protect America's interests around the world.
       There is no doubt that serious challenges remain. The 
     Defense and Navy Departments will answer some of these 
     challenges in the Quadrennial Defense Review, and I will 
     address those areas in a few moments. But, whatever the 
     challenge . . . whenever and wherever our Nation's vital 
     interests are at stake . . . I know that the solution is 
     literally at our fingertips. I speak with such great 
     confidence because of what I see in the Department of the 
     Navy every day.
       Our Sailors and Marines are our Nation's most resourceful 
     assets. There is absolutely no challenge that they cannot 
     overcome . . . no change that they cannot make work . . . no 
     role or mission at which they cannot excel. Sailors and 
     Marines find answers . . . and they get the job done!
       I believe the strength of the men and women in our Sea 
     Services is found in their dedication to our core values of 
     Honor, Courage, and Commitment. One need look no further than 
     the changes in the way the Navy Department has conducted its 
     business over the last few years. We realized that we had a 
     problem and have changed the culture of our Department. The 
     Navy and Marine Corps will tolerate nothing less than those 
     actions which ensure the dignity and respect of every 
     individual. And, the Navy Department will continue to ensure 
     that our emphasis on the character of our people remains 
     strong and clear.
       I have confidence that the Navy and Marine Corps--from me 
     to the most junior boot Marine and Sailor--will do what we 
     need to do to keep our Service the finest ever. I am proud of 
     our Navy Department--and I am very excited about the 
     opportunities ahead.
       I would like to talk about seapower . . . and the 
     relationship of our maritime forces with the uncertain world 
     we face together. As I see it, seapower is the resolute 
     marriage of Naval operations, shipbuilding, and commerce. The 
     unifying element in this enduring relationship is sealift. I 
     feel very strongly about it. In fact, the first contract I 
     awarded as Secretary of the Navy was for our sealift 
     program.
       Sealift is critical to the security of the United States. 
     More to the point, sealift is absolutely critical to the 
     sustainment of military operations. Let me paraphrase 
     comments made by General Norman Schwarzkopf following the 
     Gulf War. We can bomb our enemies back to the stone age, but 
     we need to put men and materiel on the ground to fight and 
     win our Nation's wars.
       It is absolutely crucial that we maintain America's organic 
     sealift capability. Sealift was a vital element in our 
     success in DESERT STORM . . . and it was vital in Somalia. In 
     fact, carrying troops and equipment to the front lines--from 
     the sea--has been the foundation of our military successes 
     since the Revolution. And, sealift will be critical for 
     operations in the future.
       We must continue our focus on building and maintaining the 
     right sealift to ensure our forces have the tools necessary 
     to defend America's vital interests around the world. As most 
     of you are well aware, the Maritime Security Act of 1996 goes 
     a long way toward that end. With the overwhelming approval of 
     the 104th Congress, President Clinton put us on course to 
     protect American jobs and maintain a U.S. presence in 
     international maritime trade, in both peacetime and wartime. 
     Most importantly, the Maritime Security Act reaffirms 
     America's resolve to maintain a strong U.S.-flag presence on 
     the high seas.
       The Act is a truly important piece of legislation. But, 
     another element in satisfying our strategic sealift 
     requirements is the work we have done with developing and 
     building Large Medium Speed Roll-on/roll-off ships (or LMSR's 
     or RoRo's) and the Maritime Prepositioning Force ships.
       Most people think of seapower as carriers, cruisers, 
     destroyers, frigates, and submarines. Those assets are indeed 
     critical. But, warships alone do not tell the whole story. 
     Let me expand on that idea.
       I just visited Diego Garcia, a truly vital strategic asset 
     which we share with the British in the Indian Ocean. I was 
     surprised to learn that I was the first Secretary of the 
     Navy--and the highest-ranking U.S. Government official to 
     visit there. I was glad I went.
       Upon arriving, I saw the lagoon literally filled with 
     fully-loaded, combat ready pre-positioned ships. I walked 
     away from the harbor with a full appreciation that seapower 
     means strategic sealift.
       And, that point was driven home with my last stop of the 
     visit. I toured one of those sealift ships, and spoke with 
     the professional seamen of the American Merchant Marine. 
     Those folks know their mission--and they are ready.
       Just this past March, I was at Avondale shipyard to 
     christen the USNS BOB HOPE, the first of the new class of 
     LMSRs. It is indeed an impressive vessel. The BOB HOPE class 
     incorporates the latest technology and leading-edge 
     innovations in cargo stowage,

[[Page E1203]]

     and it is designed from the keel up to meet the Army's lift 
     requirements. I am excited about this part of our strategic 
     shipbuilding program.
       We owe a great deal of thanks to Representative Jack Murtha 
     and his colleagues--some of whom are here today--for having 
     the vision and courage to lead the charge to build the 
     required sealift for our Soldiers and Marines. The young men 
     and women we send to fight and win our Nation's wars deserve 
     every ounce of support we can give.
       The other side of the sealift coin is that United States 
     must maintain a strong Navy--forward deployed--to keep the 
     Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) open.
       Protection and maintenance of the SLOCs is a primary role 
     of our Navy. America must ensure that we can move the 
     military equipment whenever and wherever needed. But, we must 
     also guarantee the free flow of commerce through the world's 
     waterways. Peacetime, forward deployed United States Naval 
     forces are the answer.
       The forward presence of our Navy ensures unfettered access 
     to global sea lanes. What these forces bring is stability . . 
     . and economic benefits for American industry and labor.
       The continuous presence of maritime forces helps maintain 
     fragile regional balances and assure economic stability by 
     guaranteeing freedom of movement upon the world's oceans. In 
     this increasingly interdependent world economy, the United 
     States Navy keeps trade routes open simply by being there. 
     This often overlooked aspect of global maritime presence is 
     of inestimable value to the U.S. and to the entire world 
     economy. For example, note that, excluding that with Canada 
     and Mexico, 90% of America's international trade travels on 
     the high seas. The imperative for protection of the SLOCs 
     is clear.
       Our continuous Naval forward presence requires ships and 
     submarines. And, while building the Navy and Marine Corps of 
     the 21st Century remains one of my top priorities, it is the 
     responsibility of all of us gathered today to ensure that 
     America builds the right force. We must maximize our limited 
     resources, yet protect the irreplaceable shipbuilding art 
     which produces the best ships and submarines in the world.
       From the Navy perspective, we are on the right course. I am 
     very excited about our shipbuilding plan. It is robust and 
     forward-thinking. Thanks to Congress, we have a solid--and 
     fully funded--budget for shipbuilding to ensure we have the 
     right force to maintain our global presence requirements.
       In fact, over the Future Years Defense Plan, we are 
     spending more than 57 billion dollars on 31 new ships, 
     submarines, and major conversions. We have funding for CVN 
     77; LPD 17 and DDG 51 are on track; and, with Congressional 
     approval, teaming for construction of the New Attack 
     Submarine will solve some difficult funding and industrial 
     base issues we face now and into the future.
       We are also conducting research and development for the 
     next generation aircraft carrier--or CVX, the Maritime Fire 
     Support Demonstrator, and a new surface combatant--or SC21. 
     These new programs are exciting because they will use the 
     most advanced technology mankind has to offer, including 
     stealth, advanced materials, and passive damage control to 
     name but a few. They will represent a true revolution in the 
     conduct of maritime operations.
       But it is not just the number of ships we are building or 
     planning, but the incredible increase in capability that we 
     are building into each new platform. There simply are no 
     finer, or more advanced, ships and submarines being built 
     anywhere else in the world.
       Our shipbuilding plan is an extremely positive and balanced 
     program. But, there is still a long way to go to ensure we 
     have the funding necessary for our ship and aircraft 
     modernization requirements coming in the next decade. That is 
     an issue on which I will be working closely with Secretary of 
     Defense Bill Cohen and Congress in the months ahead. The 
     Quadrennial Defense Review--or QDR--is but the first step in 
     this process.
       It is clear that we face a world filled with challenges and 
     uncertainties. The fact is that our Navy and maritime 
     industry must meet the future together--with a single vision. 
     The key is to size the vision correctly--and to build room 
     for plenty of flexibility into our plans and policies to 
     address the upcoming challenges. I like President Harry 
     Truman's idea. He said:
       ``You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand 
     a little one. I don't believe in little plans. I believe in 
     plans big enough to meet a situation which we can't possibly 
     foresee now.''
       I view this period in our history just as an extraordinary 
     opportunity to take stock . . . to build the ``big plans'' 
     for the future security of the United States. But we must do 
     this together .  . . in the halls of Congress, in the 
     Pentagon, and in the shipyards and the seas around the world.
       Again, it has been an honor to represent the wonderful men 
     and women of the Department of the Navy here today. Thank you 
     and all members of the National Security Caucus for this very 
     special award. God bless the men and women of the United 
     States Congress entrusted to lead this great Nation . . . God 
     bless those of you that carry on Paul Hall's legacy . . . and 
     God bless America.

     

                          ____________________