[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




URGING MEMBERS TO SUPPORT RESOLUTION REQUESTING POSTAL SERVICE TO ISSUE 
     STAMP HONORING THE UNITED STATES SUBMARINE FORCE ON ITS 100TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

  (Mr. GEJDENSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, the year 2000 is the 100th anniversary of 
our submarine fleet. The Postal Service recently made what I believe 
was a serious error in rejecting a postal stamp. There were several 
options out there that would make a stamp that would have high demand 
in this country.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in a resolution that will be supported 
by the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and original 
cosponsor of this resolution. They will join President Carter, Defense 
Secretary Cohen, and Navy Secretary Dalton in support of having the 
Postal Service reconsider an earlier decision that turned down a 
submarine stamp.
  We have but two possibilities here. Here is a second one. But what is 
most important, when we look at the number of stamps that are being 
produced, from cartoon figures to actors, it seems to me that a service 
that has been critical and vital to the survival of the United States 
and its freedoms, with so many Americans giving their lives in service, 
that they need to be recognized on this 20th anniversary. I hope all of 
my colleagues will join us in supporting this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise in support of the hundreds of 
thousands of Americans who have patrolled beneath the oceans to keep us 
free.
  Today I will introduce a resolution urging the Postal Service to 
reconsider its earlier decision and issue a commemorative postage stamp 
honoring the United States Submarine Force on its 100th anniversary in 
the year 2000.
  In December, the Postal Service made a mistake in turning down the 
request on the ground that the stamps might not have wide commercial 
appeal. The Americans who spent over 200 million dollars to see the 
Hunt for Red October and Crimson Tide at the movies would beg to 
differ. As would the over three million Americans who have visited the 
Nautilus museum in Groton, Connecticut, since it opened in 1986.
  Even more importantly, this decision should be reversed on the merits 
of heroism. With only 2% of navy personnel during World War II, the 
U.S. submarine force destroyed 55% of all Japanese shipping. And we can 
never forget the 3,800 submariners who have given their lives to this 
country in the line of duty.
  From the Navy's first submarine, USS Holland, to the latest due for 
commissioning this year as USS Connecticut, there is much of which we 
have to be proud. We can think of few better ways in which to honor the 
Submarine Force's 100 years than through this commemoration.
  I am honored to have the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee 
among the original co-sponsors of this resolution. They join former 
President Carter, Defense Secretary Cohen, and Navy Secretary Dalton in 
calling on the Postal Service to reconsider its earlier decision.
  I ask all members of this House to join me and put the full weight of 
this body behind the men and women who have served this nation as part 
of the United States Submarine Force.

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