[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S8206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 65--CONGRATULATING THE NAVY AND THE 
CURRENT AND FORMER OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) 
      ON COMPLETION OF THE 25TH AND FINAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE VESSEL

  Mr. WARNER (for himself, Mr. Webb, and Mr. McCain) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Armed Services:

                            S. Con. Res. 65

       Whereas on November 4, 2012, the U.S.S. Enterprise returned 
     to her homeport of Norfolk, Virginia, after completing the 
     25th and final deployment of the vessel;
       Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise, the first nuclear powered 
     aircraft carrier to serve the United States, is scheduled for 
     inactivation in December 2012 after more than 51 years in 
     active service to the Navy and the Nation;
       Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise is the 8th vessel to bear 
     that name and justly and rightfully maintained the honor and 
     tradition of those vessels that previously bore the name;
       Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise participated in the embargo 
     of the island of Cuba ordered by President John Kennedy in 
     the fall of 1962, helping to prevent an escalation of that 
     crisis;
       Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise conducted multiple 
     deployments in support of combat operations during the 
     Vietnam War;
       Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise, upon receiving the news of 
     the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States while 
     returning home from a six-month deployment, immediately 
     reversed course and was deployed in the Arabian Sea;
       Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise launched hundreds of air 
     strikes into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring 
     Freedom throughout October 2001 to destroy Taliban and al 
     Qaeda targets;
       Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise deployed six times over the 
     last 11 years to conduct combat operations in support of 
     Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; and
       Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise and the 10 Nimitz-class 
     aircraft carriers of the Navy have proven the wisdom and 
     value of nuclear powered aircraft carriers, which have played 
     crucial roles across the range of military operations, from 
     humanitarian assistance to combat operations, including 
     operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginnings of 
     hostilities, providing, from the sea, unparalleled precision 
     strike, close air support, and surveillance in support of 
     ground combat operations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) congratulates the Navy and the many crews of the U.S.S. 
     Enterprise (CVN 65) on having provided the United States an 
     incalculable service in international relations and 
     engagement and in the prevention and winning of armed 
     conflicts over the 51-year period of the service of the 
     U.S.S. Enterprise;
       (2) honors the service and memory of the 121 Sailors who 
     made the ultimate sacrifice for their country while serving 
     onboard U.S.S. Enterprise, including the 30 that were killed 
     in action during the Vietnam War;
       (3) honors the service of the 20 U.S.S. Enterprise Sailors 
     who were held as Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War, the 
     3 who died in captivity, and the 5 that are still listed as 
     missing-in-action; and
       (4) congratulates the nearly 100,000 current and former 
     Sailors who have served on the U.S.S. Enterprise and thanks 
     them for the selfless sacrifice they made in service to the 
     United States.

                          ____________________