[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 70 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H2346-H2348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1500
 HONORING SERVICES AND SACRIFICES OF THE UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE

  Mr. LaTourette. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 109) honoring the services 
and sacrifices of the United States merchant marine.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 109

       Whereas throughout our history, the United States merchant 
     marine has served the Nation during times of war;
       Whereas the merchant marine served as the Nation's first 
     navy, and defeated the British Navy to help gain the Nation's 
     independence;
       Whereas during World War II more than 250,000 men and women 
     served in the merchant marine, and faced dangers from the 
     elements, and from mines, submarines, other armed enemy 
     vessels, and aircraft;
       Whereas during World War II vessels of the merchant marine 
     fleet, such as the S.S. Lane Victory, provided critical 
     logistical support to the Armed Forces by carrying equipment, 
     supplies, and personnel necessary to the war effort;
       Whereas President Franklin D. Roosevelt and many military 
     leaders praised the role of the merchant marine as the 
     ``Fourth Arm of Defense'' during World War II;
       Whereas during World War II more than 6,800 members of the 
     merchant marine were killed at sea, more than 11,000 were 
     wounded, and more than 600 were taken prisoner;
       Whereas 1 out of every 32 members of the merchant marine 
     serving during World War II died in the line of duty, a 
     higher percentage of war related deaths than in any of the 
     armed services;
       Whereas, at a time when the people of the United States are 
     recognizing the contributions of the Armed Forces and 
     civilian personnel to the national security, it is 
     appropriate to recognize the service of the merchant marine; 
     and
       Whereas the merchant marine continues to serve and protect 
     the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) honors the service and sacrifice of members of the 
     United States merchant marine;
       (2) recognizes the critical role played by vessels of the 
     United States merchant marine fleet in transporting 
     equipment, supplies, and personnel in support of the Nation's 
     defense;
       (3) recognizes the historical significance of May 22 as 
     National Maritime Day, so designated in 1933 to commemorate 
     the anniversary of the first transoceanic voyage under steam 
     propulsion, and finds it fitting and proper on this day of 
     paying tribute to our maritime history to pay special honor 
     to the merchant marine;
       (4) encourages the American people and appropriate 
     government agencies, through appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities, to recognize the services and sacrifices of the 
     United States merchant marine, and to observe this day by 
     displaying the flag of the United States at their homes and 
     other suitable places; and
       (5) requests that all ships sailing under the United States 
     flag prominently display the flag on this day.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Costello) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  First of all, as May 22 is the day nationally designated as the 
commemoration for the efforts of merchant mariners across the country, 
I want to specifically thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the 
chairman of our full committee; the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 
Oberstar), the ranking member of the full committee; the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), the chairman of the Subcommittee on the 
Coast Guard; and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown), the ranking 
member, for agreeing to discharge this particular resolution from the 
committee's consideration.
  Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 109 honors the services and sacrifices of 
the United States Merchant Marine. Today, we are here to pay tribute to 
a group of American heroes who, in my estimation, have never gotten 
their just due for all they have done to serve our country; that is, 
the Merchant Marines.
  The Merchant Marines certainly are aware of their proud history, but 
I will bet that there are millions of Americans out there, especially 
our schoolchildren, who probably did not hear much about the tremendous 
role of the Merchant Marine when they were learning about the Second 
World War.
  The United States Merchant Marine has served the people of the United 
States in all wars since 1775 and was in existence prior to the 
formation of the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard. 
In fact, the United States Merchant Marine was our country's first Navy 
and defeated the British Navy to help win our country's independence.
  The Merchant Marine's role was especially important during the Second 
World War. The Merchant Marines were the ones who took the troops 
through harm's way and delivered supplies all over the world. Merchant 
Marines were participants in landing operations from Guadalcanal to Iwo 
Jima, and suffered the highest casualty rate of any service during the 
Second World War.
  At least 8,600 merchant mariners were killed at sea, meaning one in 
32 were killed in action. Another 11,000 mariners were wounded, and 
some 1,500 ships were sunk. More than 604 were taken prisoner. From 
December 1941 to August 1945 alone, the United States lost 5,638 
merchant seamen aboard 733 ships sunk by submarines. Some weeks, 30 
ships were sunk.
  Our Merchant Marines were there long before the war began and were 
the

[[Page H2347]]

last ones to come home. We cannot underestimate the importance of this 
group of overlooked heroes.
  During World War II, 7 to 15 tons of supplies were needed to supply 
just one GI for one year at the front. In 1945 alone, merchant mariners 
moved 17 million pounds of cargo every hour. This included ammo, 
planes, fuel, boats, explosives, tanks, Jeeps, medicines and food.
  In World War II, virtually every serviceman who saw action against 
the enemy was transported overseas by ship and virtually all of the 
supplies were also delivered by our gutsy, fearless merchant mariners. 
President Roosevelt called the 250,000 Merchant Marines who served in 
World War II our Nation's ``Fourth Arm of Defense.''
  While the Merchant Marines are best known for their service and 
sacrifice of World War II, that is hardly their entire mystery. 
Merchant mariners also participated in the War of 1812, World War I, 
the Civil War, the Spanish American War, Korea and Vietnam. They even 
supplied troops in Bosnia and the Persian Gulf.
  The Merchant Marines have provided a critical service during every 
war in our Nation's history, yet our Nation officially refuses to 
recognize merchant mariners as veterans and give them the same status 
and benefits afforded to other veterans. Only recently did the Congress 
pass legislation to give merchant mariners the right to a flag upon 
burial. I think that is one of the great shames of the 20th century, 
Madam Speaker, that we did not do more to honor the service of the 
Merchant Marines.
  Madam Speaker, since 1933, our Nation has recognized May 22 as 
National Maritime Day, and that particular date was chosen because it 
was on May 22, 1819 that the S.S. Savannah departed from Savannah, 
Georgia on the first transatlantic steamship voyage. It was not long 
before merchant mariners used this date to honor their own.
  Tomorrow is National Maritime Day, and it is fitting that today we 
will pass H. Con. Res. 109, which honors the service and sacrifice of 
the members of the United States Merchant Marine. The measure 
recognizes the critical role played by vessels of the United States 
Merchant Marine fleet in transporting equipment, supplies and personnel 
in support of our Nation's defense and recognizes the historical 
significance of May 22 as National Maritime Day.
  Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 109 encourages the American people and 
appropriate government agencies to recognize the services and 
sacrifices of the United States Merchant Marine and to observe National 
Maritime Day tomorrow by displaying the flag of the United States at 
their homes and in other suitable places. It also requests that all 
ships sailing under the United States flag prominently display the flag 
tomorrow.
  Madam Speaker, I recently had the honor of dedicating a Merchant 
Marine Memorial in Ashtabula, Ohio, which is in my lovely congressional 
district. I was honored to be there in the presence of those great 
Americans. I hope my colleagues will join me today in passing this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of House concurrent resolution 109, a resolution 
honoring the services and sacrifices of the men and women who served in 
the United States Merchant Marine.
  Madam Speaker, tomorrow is National Maritime Day, a day set aside by 
law for the past 68 years to recognize the contributions to our Nation 
by these men and women who have served our Nation in war and in peace, 
transporting goods and military supplies wherever they are needed.
  The Merchant Marine is not well-known by many Americans. The Merchant 
Marine is composed of those men and women who operate the commercial 
ships that transport both military supplies and the everyday goods that 
we use in or society. This includes everything from tanks to 
televisions, from ammunition to automobiles.
  During World War II, over 6,000 Merchant Marines died when their 
ships were attacked by the enemy. Merchant mariners were exempt from 
the draft during World War II, because it was vitally important for 
them to use their unique skills to transport our military supplies in 
the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of operation. Their mission was made 
dangerous by the constant attacks of the German submarines.
  I would urge my colleagues and the American people to take the time 
to visit some of the merchant ships from this era that are on display 
around the country. In Baltimore, they can visit the S.S. John Brown. 
In San Francisco, they can visit the S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien, and in Los 
Angeles, they can visit the S.S. Lane Victory. These Liberty and 
Victory ships were turned out of our shipyards at a rate of one per 
day. Once on board, a much better appreciation for the conditions under 
which these mariners worked and the sacrifices and contributions these 
Americans made for our Nation would be gained.
  Today, the men and women who serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine are 
responsible for the safe operation of container ships, dry cargo ships 
and tankers that are all the lifeline of commerce. Over 95 percent of 
the imports and exports that come from overseas are transported by 
water. These ships form the bridge over which the goods and materials 
for U.S. factories and consumers are shipped. During Operations Desert 
Shield/Desert Storm, these men and women successfully transported the 
weapons and supplies from the United States to the Middle East that 
were crucial for our victory.
  Madam Speaker, it is fitting and appropriate for the House of 
Representatives to recognize the service and sacrifices made by the men 
and women who serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Therefore, I strongly 
urge my colleagues to support passage of House concurrent resolution 
109 as a sign of our appreciation for their work to protect our 
freedom.
  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support 
of House Concurrent Resolution 109, honoring the services and 
sacrifices of the United States Merchant Marine.
  At a time when America prepares to honor the men and women who have 
served their country in the armed forces, it is with great pride that I 
take this opportunity to recognize the United States Merchant Marine 
for their contribution to a grateful nation.
  Madam Speaker, the U.S. Merchant Marine has been critical to our 
military success dating back to the Revolutionary War. It served as the 
nation's first navy when we defeated the British Navy, helping to 
secure our independence.
  During World War II, the merchant marine fleet provided critical 
logistical support to the armed forces by transporting equipment, 
supplies, and personnel in support of the war effort. And today, as we 
face the challenges of an ever-changing world, the United States 
continues to rely on the merchant marine and the vital role it plays to 
ensure we remain ready to respond to any emergency threatening our 
national security.
  Madam Speaker, as I stand here today, the men and women of the 
merchant marine continue to prepare for the next time the nation calls. 
They have been entrusted to continue the legacy of those who have 
sailed the seas before them. Their role in transporting goods and 
services is the critical link required to support a global economy. It 
has been instrumental in securing the prosperity our nation enjoys 
today. And, at the same time, as the merchant marine makes such 
tremendous contributions to our nation's prosperity, they continue to 
strengthen their skills and remain ready to flex what President 
Roosevelt called the ``Forth Arm of Defense'' in time of crisis.
  Madam Speaker, as we approach this Memorial Day weekend, it is a 
privilege for me to honor and thank the men and women of the United 
States Merchant Marine. Their efforts and dedication have contributed 
to our nation from the beginning and they continue to be an important 
element in America's ability to maintain peace through strength.
  I urge support for House Concurrent Resolution 109 and encourage a 
``yes'' vote.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 109.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.

[[Page H2348]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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