[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 8, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H2883-H2885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SINKING OF THE U.S.S. 
                              ``THRESHER''

  Mr. BRADLEY of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 170) recognizing the 40th 
anniversary of the sinking of the U.S.S. Thresher.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 170

       Whereas the U.S.S. Thresher was first launched at 
     Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on July 9, 1960;
       Whereas, with a crew of 16 officers, 96 sailors, and 17 
     civilians, the U.S.S. Thresher departed Portsmouth Naval 
     Shipyard for her final voyage on April 9, 1963;
       Whereas the military and civilian mix of the U.S.S. 
     Thresher crew reflects the unity of the naval submarine 
     service in the protection of the United States;
       Whereas at approximately 7:47 a.m. on April 10, 1963, while 
     in communication with the surface ship U.S.S. Skylark, and 
     approximately 300 miles off the coast of New England, the 
     U.S.S. Thresher began her final descent;
       Whereas, on April 10, 1963, the U.S.S. Thresher was 
     declared lost with all hands;
       Whereas the loss of the U.S.S. Thresher gave rise to the 
     SUBSAFE program, which has kept United States' submariners 
     safe at sea as the strongest and safest submarine force in 
     history;
       Whereas the loss of the U.S.S. Thresher gave rise to an 
     ocean engineering curricula in institutions of higher 
     education that has enabled and sustained the United States' 
     preeminence in submarine warfare; and
       Whereas the crew of the U.S.S. Thresher demonstrated the 
     ``last full measure of devotion'' in service to the United 
     States, and this devotion characterizes the sacrifices of all 
     submariners, past and present: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the 
     U.S.S. Thresher;
       (2) remembers with profound sorrow the loss on April 10, 
     1963, of the U.S.S. Thresher and her gallant crew of sailors 
     and civilians;
       (3) expresses its deepest gratitude to all submariners on 
     ``eternal patrol'', who are

[[Page H2884]]

     forever bound together by their dedicated and honorable 
     service to the United States; and
       (4) requests the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Chief of Naval 
     Operations and to the Commanding Officer of the Portsmouth 
     Naval Shipyard to be accepted on behalf of the families and 
     shipmates of the crew of the U.S.S. Thresher.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Hampshire (Mr. Bradley) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bradley).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BRADLEY of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and 
extend their remarks on H. Res. 170, the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Hampshire?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BRADLEY of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume, and I rise today to honor the memory of the crew of 
the U.S.S. Thresher, an American nuclear submarine which was lost with 
all hands during sea trials off the coast of Cape Cod 40 years ago.
  The Thresher was the first of a new class of nuclear submarines that 
would prove to be instrumental in ending the Cold War. I speak today to 
commend the bravery and heroism of 129 men who lost their lives in this 
terrible accident, and to honor all of our men and women in the armed 
services who have given their lives to protect our freedoms.
  The nuclear attack submarine, U.S.S. Thresher, was commissioned on 
August 3, 1961 under the command of Commander Dean Axene. This was the 
second ship to carry the name Thresher, and was built at the Portsmouth 
Naval Shipyard. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has a long and 
distinguished history of building and maintaining the Navy's submarine 
fleet. During World War II, Portsmouth established a record for 
building the largest number of submarines during a single calendar 
year, 31 in 1944.
  On October 18 of that year, the Thresher sailed south to Puerto Rico, 
where she conducted sea trials of her weapon systems and diving 
mechanisms. Upon completion of these extensive tests, the Thresher 
returned to her home port of Portsmouth for an overhaul before 
commencing active duty. After finishing the overhaul, she was escorted 
by the U.S.S. Skylark to an area 300 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, 
Massachusetts.

                              {time}  1415

  There she conducted a series of deep-diving tests. During one of 
these tests, the Skylark received a number of garbled transmissions 
from the Thresher, followed by what sounded like rushing water. After 
an extended loss of communications with the submarine, a search and 
rescue team was deployed. In April 1963, it was determined that she had 
gone down taking all 129 lives of her crew.
  The brave men who served on this submarine died while in service of 
their country, but their sacrifice was not in vain because from this 
tragic accident came the creation of the United States Navy SUBSAFE 
program. This program increased the standards of all United States 
Naval submarines' reserve buoyancy, allowing submarines to rise to the 
surface more quickly and easily, even when damaged or flooding. Because 
of the success of this program, the United States Navy has the safest 
submarine force in history.
  It is important not to forget the role that the United States 
submarine fleet played in winning the Cold War. It was the power and 
strength of the United States submarines that provided an invaluable 
deterrence which enabled the United States to win the Cold War and end 
the threat of Soviet aggression.
  The submarine crews who gave their lives while protecting the United 
States made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and should be 
honored as they stand on eternal patrol. During this time of conflict 
and unrest, I believe we must pay tribute to the crew of the Thresher 
and all submarine crews who have given their lives to protect the 
freedoms and liberties that we enjoy as American citizens. I urge 
strong support for this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen).
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. I rise in strong support of H. Res. 170, a resolution to 
commemorate the 40th anniversary of the tragedy of the USS Thresher, 
and I thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bradley) for bringing 
this resolution forward. The gentleman from New Hampshire and I jointly 
represent almost all of the workforce at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard 
where the Thresher was built in 1961 and which continues to serve a 
vital function for the Navy in submarine repair and overhaul.
  Mr. Speaker, 40 years ago 129 sailors, officers and civilians lost 
their lives when the USS Thresher went down off the coast of Cape Cod. 
It was one of the worst peacetime submarine disasters in history. The 
Thresher was the lead ship of a new class of nuclear-powered 
submarines. Following commissioning in August 1961, the Thresher spent 
the next year and a half in sea trials to test its technological 
enhancements. It returned to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for overhaul.
  On April 9, 1963, the Thresher departed for deep-sea training. The 
next morning as the boat was near its maximum depth, something went 
wrong. The Thresher's crew notified its companion ship on the surface, 
the USS Skylark, that it was experiencing minor difficulties. The 
Skylark then received ominous but less clear signals, and soon realized 
that the Thresher had sunk to the depths with all souls on board.
  Despite a depth of 8,400 feet, the Navy located the wreckage. It was 
able to investigate and discovered the likely cause of the catastrophe. 
A leak in the engine room seawater system had caused a reactor 
shutdown, and left the sub insufficient power to resurface. The loss of 
the Thresher and its crew left an important legacy for future 
generations of submariners.
  The Navy subsequently implemented new procedures such as the SUBSAFE 
program to ensure that no submarine would ever again enter the water 
without a full safety certification and rigorous test program. These 
changes have benefited the Navy and saved lives over the last 4 
decades.
  This week, memorials are being conducted at the Portsmouth Naval 
Shipyard to mark the 40th anniversary of the tragedy. This resolution 
pays tribute to the crew of the USS Thresher, who continue to be 
remembered throughout New England for their bravery and sacrifice. 
Today we offer our remembrance and our gratitude to them and express 
our sorrow to the families they left behind.
  Again, I appreciate the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bradley) in 
bringing forth this resolution and ask the whole House to join us in 
honoring the lost crew of the Thresher.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this resolution being brought to the House 
floor today. April 10, 1963, marks the 40th anniversary for the loss of 
the Thresher and brings home once again the dangers inherent in 
military service, particularly with regard to new technology.
  Our edge militarily in America has been and will continue to be our 
technology, but with new technology comes unexpected risks; and that is 
what was seen with the Thresher.
  A word about nuclear-powered submarines, and that is that not only 
did these men demonstrate courage, but also the very nature of their 
work demonstrates intelligence, high levels of education, long-term 
commitments to the submarine service and to the nuclear force. We also 
have to recognize the dedication and perseverance of their family 
members who have to share with them their commitment to nuclear 
submarines.
  So today we pay tribute to the 129 men, including 17 civilians, who 
were lost 40 years ago and now rest at 8,400 feet in the ocean. I thank 
the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bradley) for bringing this 
resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
deepest sympathies to the crew and families that perished with the

[[Page H2885]]

USS Thresher. On board was a crew of 16 officers, 96 sailors and 17 
civilians, and on April 10, 1963, the submarine was declared lost with 
all hands.
  I am in support of the House Resolution 170, in recognizing the 40th 
anniversary of the sinking of the USS Thresher. I hope we all can take 
a moment to remember with profound sorrow the loss of those brave and 
gallant people aboard, both sailors and civilians.
  I also want to take this time to express my deepest gratitude to all 
submariners on ``eternal patrol.'' These men and women are forever 
bound together by their dedicated and honorable service to the United 
States, and we thank you for taking such pride in this honor.
  The loss of the USS Thresher gave rise to the SUBSAFE program. This 
has kept United States Submariners safe at sea, and we have the safest 
and strongest submarine fleet in history. Its loss also gave rise to 
furthering oceanic studies, so we can continue to protect the men and 
women who serve our nation so well.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRADLEY of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bradley) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 170.
  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. BRADLEY of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas 
and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  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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