[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CENTER TO BE DISESTABLISHED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. BORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 19, 1999

  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that the Defense 
Industrial Supply Center (DISC) in my district will be disestablished 
in a fitting ceremony on July 2, 1999. In accordance with the Base 
Realignment and Closure Commission, DISC and its hard working employees 
will continue their mission as a part of a new organization, the 
Defense Supply Center Philadelphia.
  Established as a field activity of the Defense Logistics Agency on 
April 1, 1962, DISC has for over three decades combined professional 
personnel talent with modern management techniques to provide its 
military customers throughout the world with responsive logistic 
support.
  DISC items were used by all the services in support of their 
multimillion dollar weapon systems, such as, the Trident, Patriot and 
Minuteman III missiles; the Black Hawk and Apache helicopters; the 
Abrams tank; the Eagle, Hornet and Harrier aircraft; the Ohio and Los 
Angeles Class submarines; the AEGIS Class cruisers; and the Nimitz 
Class aircraft carriers, as well as certain NASA space programs. In 
addition to supplying vital parts to our Armed Forces, DISC also 
provided emergency support in times of disaster.
  From its headquarters in Northeast Philadelphia, DISC military and 
civilian personnel maintained a constant flow of critical items 24 
hours a day, 7 days a week, to satisfy the supply needs of the military 
services. The Center was responsible for the wholesale support of 
industrial and commercial type items to the military services. These 
items included plumbing, wood products, material handling and 
facilities maintenance supplies, marine safety and fire fighting 
equipment, food service equipment, imaging and information supplies, as 
well as bearings, rope, cable and fittings, fasteners, hardware, 
packing and gasket materials, springs and rings, metal bars, sheets and 
shapes, electrical wire and cable, as well as certain ores, minerals 
and precious metals.
  Active in Philadelphia community affairs, DISC employees participated 
in numerous civic activities in and around the Delaware Valley. Many 
employees have earned wide recognition for their volunteer work in 
personal one-to-one relationships with the young, the old, and the 
needy through such programs as Project Reachout and Project Give. The 
employees are also key members and leaders in a host of other community 
groups and associations, such as Boy and Girl Scouts; Little League; 
United Way; and in church, veterans and civic organizations where they 
participate in many activities of benefit to the greater Philadelphia 
area.
  DISC has earned the privilege to fly the Minuteman flag each year of 
its existence through U.S. Saving Bonds participation. This is a unique 
record unequaled by any other major Federal Activity.
  As the Defense Industrial Supply Center Colors are lowered for the 
last time, I personally extend my sincere praise and appreciation to 
Nicholas J. Ranalli, DISC's Administrator, and to all military and 
civilian employees, past and present, who have been providing dedicated 
service to our military personnel around the world since 1962.
  The people of Philadelphia and the Nation can take justifiable pride 
in a fine job well done and to look forward to the continuation of 
DISC's vital role in the defense efforts of our country when the 
mission of the Defense Industrial Supply Center conjoins its operation 
with the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia.

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