[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S5613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 129--RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE MEMBERS OF THE 
NAVY AND MARINE CORPS WHO SERVED IN THE U.S.S. ``ABRAHAM LINCOLN'' AND 
          WELCOMING THEM HOME FROM THEIR RECENT MISSION ABROAD

  Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services:

                              S. Res. 129

       Whereas the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is the fifth 
     Nimitz-class aircraft carrier of the United States and has 
     its homeport at Naval Station Everett in Washington;
       Whereas the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln serves as home to 5,000 
     brave members of the Navy and Marine Corps and carries 
     approximately 70 combat and support aircraft;
       Whereas the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln is scheduled to return 
     to its homeport on May 6, 2003, after nearly ten months on 
     deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation 
     Enduring Freedom, and Operation Southern Watch;
       Whereas the deployment of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln was 
     the longest for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier since 
     1973;
       Whereas in December 2002, the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln 
     completed a six-month deployment in the Persian Gulf 
     conducting operations in support of the Global War on 
     Terrorism and was returning to its homeport when it was 
     ordered back to the Persian Gulf in January 2003 to support 
     what was to become Operation Iraqi Freedom;
       Whereas during the nearly ten-month deployment of the 
     U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, there were 12,700 takeoffs and trap 
     landings and 16,500 sorties from the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, 
     265,118 pounds of ordinance were expended from the U.S.S. 
     Abraham Lincoln during Operation Enduring Freedom and 
     Operation Southern Watch, and 1,600,000 pounds of ordinance 
     were expended from U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln during Operation 
     Iraqi Freedom;
       Whereas the deployment of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln 
     featured numerous firsts, including the first use of the 
     Super Hornet and the first operational availability of the 
     ``Man Overboard Indicator'' onboard the U.S.S. Abraham 
     Lincoln; and
       Whereas the citizens of the City of Everett, the County of 
     Snohomish, the State of Washington, and the United States are 
     proud of the members of the Navy and Marine Corps who serve 
     on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and commends the 
     members of the Navy and Marine Corps who serve on the U.S.S. 
     Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and welcomes them home from their 
     recent mission abroad.

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