[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S9601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S9601]]
SENATE RESOLUTION 265--COMMENDING THE NAVAL NUCLEAR PROPULSION PROGRAM 
                        ON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. WARNER submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 265

       Whereas in 1948, Admiral (then Captain) Hyman G. Rickover 
     first assembled his team of Navy professionals, other 
     Government professionals, and contractor professionals that 
     would adapt the relatively new technology of atomic energy to 
     design and build the United States' fleet of nuclear-powered 
     warships;
       Whereas over the next seven years, Admiral Rickover and his 
     team developed an industrial base in a new technology, 
     pioneered new materials, designed and built a prototype 
     reactor, established a training program, and took the world's 
     first nuclear-powered submarine, the U.S.S. Nautilus, to sea 
     thus ensuring America's undersea superiority;
       Whereas since 1955, when the U.S.S. Nautilus first sailed, 
     the Navy has put to sea 209 nuclear-powered ships whose 
     propulsion plants have given the Navy unparalleled mobility, 
     flexibility, and, additionally for submarines, stealth, with 
     an outstanding record of safety;
       Whereas during its 50 years of existence, the Naval Nuclear 
     Propulsion Program has developed, built, and managed the 
     operation of 246 nuclear reactors of more than 30 different 
     designs with a combined total of 4,900 reactor years of 
     operation, thereby leading the world in reactor construction, 
     servicing, and operational experience;
       Whereas since its inception, the Naval Nuclear Propulsion 
     Program has trained over 90,000 reactor operators and the 
     Navy's nuclear-powered warships have achieved over 
     113,000,000 miles of safe steaming on nuclear power; and
       Whereas nuclear energy now propels more than 40 percent of 
     the Navy's major combatant vessels and these nuclear-powered 
     warships are accepted without reservation by over 50 
     countries and territories into 150 ports: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate commends the past and present personnel of 
     the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program for the technical 
     excellence, accomplishment, and oversight demonstrated in the 
     program and congratulates those personnel for the 50 years of 
     exemplary service that has been provided to the United States 
     through the program; and
       (2) it is the sense of the Senate that the Naval Nuclear 
     Propulsion Program should be continued into the next 
     millennium to provide exemplary technical accomplishment in, 
     and oversight of, Naval nuclear propulsion plants and to 
     continue to be a model of technical excellence in the United 
     States and the world.

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