[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 4, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ONE TEAM--ONE FIGHT--ONE NAME: THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY AND MARINE 
                                 CORPS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.
  Mr. Speaker, last month I introduced H.R. 24, legislation to 
redesignate the Department of the Navy to be the Department of Navy and 
Marine Corps.
  For the past 7 years, the language of this bill has been part of the 
House version of the National Defense Authorization Act, and I would 
like to thank the former chairman of the House Armed Services 
Committee, Duncan Hunter, the current chairman of the Armed Services 
Committee, Ike Skelton, and all of the members of the committee for 
their support.
  Each year, the full House of Representatives have supported this 
change. This year I hope the Senate will support the change and adopt 
the House position and join in bringing proper respect to the fighting 
team, the Navy and Marine Corps.
  There is much I could say about the history of both great services, 
but the reason for this legislation always comes down to one issue--
whenever a chief of Navy operations or commandant of the Marine Corps 
has come to testify before the Armed Services Committee, I've heard the 
Navy and the Marine Corps say, ``We are one fighting team.'' This is 
true, and I believe this. Then why should not the team be named ``Navy 
and Marine Corps''?
  Changing the name of the Department of the Navy to the Department of 
the Navy and Marine Corps is a symbolic gesture, but it is important to 
the team.
  This legislation is not about changing the responsibilities of the 
Secretary of the Department, reallocating resources between the Navy 
and Marine Corps, or altering their mission. The Navy and Marine Corps 
have operated as one entity for more than 2 centuries, and H.R. 24 
would enable the name of their department to illustrate this fight.
  Over the years, I have been encouraged by the overwhelming support I 
have received for this change from so many members of the United States 
Armed Forces. I will quote one supporter of this change, the Honorable 
Wade Sanders, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Reserve 
Affairs from 1993 to 1998, who said, ``As a combat veteran and former 
Naval officer, I understand the importance of the team dynamic, and the 
importance of recognizing the contributions of team components. The 
Navy and Marine Corps team is just that: a dynamic partnership, and it 
is important to symbolically recognize the balance of that 
partnership.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for the Record a list of others 
who have supported this effort to provide proper recognition for the 
Marine Corps. With their backing, I will continue to work diligently to 
see this bill through the House and push for the Senate's support. The 
Marines who are fighting today deserve this recognition.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to show what this change could 
mean to a family of a fallen Marine.
  Mr. Speaker, first, this is a copy of a letter to a Marine family, a 
Marine captain who was killed for this Nation. The Secretary of the 
Navy sent this letter. We have removed the name respectfully, and it 
says, ``The Secretary of the Navy.''
  ``On behalf of the Department of the Navy''--this is a proud team. 
``On behalf of the Department of Navy,'' the captain, Marine captain's 
wife received this letter of condolences. And I do commend the 
Secretary of the Navy for writing the letter of condolences.
  But Mr. Speaker, if this bill should ever become the law of the 
land--and I hope this will be the year--that Marine family who gave a 
loved one for this country will receive the letter from the Department 
of Navy and Marine Corps and it will say in the heading, ``Dear Marine 
Corps Family, on behalf of the Department of Navy and Marine Corps, 
please accept my very sincere condolences.''
  Mr. Speaker, this is what it should be: one Department of Navy and 
Marine Corps.
  I hope, again, the House will send this to the Senate. I hope this 
year the Senate will accept the House position. It is the right thing 
to do for the team.
  God bless America, and God bless our men and women in uniform, and 
please, God, continue to bless America.

H.R. 24: Supporters of the Redesignation of the Department of the Navy 
           To Be the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps

       In the past eight years, the following have supported the 
     change:


                              Individuals

       Secretary of the Navy Paul Nitz (1963-1967); Assistant 
     Secretary of the Navy H. Lawrence Garrett, III (1989-1992); 
     Acting Secretary of the Navy Daniel Howard (1992); Secretary 
     of the Navy John Dalton (1998-2001); General Carl Mundy, 30th 
     Commandant of the Marine Corps; General Charles Krulak, 31st 
     Commandant of the Marine Corps; Admiral Stansfield Turner; 
     Rear Admiral James T. Carey (Chairman, National Defense PAC); 
     Deputy Asst. Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs Wade 
     Sanders (1993-1998); James Zumwalt, Jr., (Son of the former 
     CNO).


                              Associations

       Fleet Reserve Association; Marine Corps League; National 
     Defense PAC; National Association of Uniformed Services; 
     Veterans of Foreign Wars.

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