[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 172 (Thursday, December 1, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1561-E1562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    USS ``JOHN P. MURTHA'' (LPD-26)

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2016

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the commissioning 
of the USS John P. Murtha, the new naval vessel named in honor of the 
late Congressman Jack Murtha, who will fondly be remembered as a 
decorated combat Marine, statesman, and dear friend to colleagues on 
both sides of the aisle.
  On Saturday, October 8, 2016 in Philadelphia, PA, the Navy's 10th San 
Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, named the USS John P. Murtha 
(LPD 26), was commissioned by his beloved widow Mrs. Joyce Murtha and 
daughter Ms. Donna Murtha.
  During his 58 years of service to our nation, 38 in the U.S. Marine 
Corps and 35 as a Member of U.S. Congress from Johnstown, PA, Rep. 
Murtha was an indefatigable champion for the Armed Services, rising in 
1989 to chair the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. His 
detailed knowledge of the U.S. military, deep friendships across the 
various services, respect from his Congressional colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle, and wry sense of humor drew people to him and made 
him a highly effective lawmaker. Jack was a father of three children, 
the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to Congress, recipient of 
the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, and staunch 
representative of his people. His own wartime experience as a battalion 
staff officer in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star, two 
Purple Hearts, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, gave him deep 
insight into the political and military complexities of modern warfare.
  An author, From Vietnam to 9/11: On the Front Lines of National 
Security with a New Epilogue on the Iraq War, he wrote: The Congress--
the people's branch of government--has an obligation to make an 
independent assessment of key foreign policy issues. The way we go 
about collecting, analyzing, and using intelligence information is one 
of the most important determinants of our success or failure in world 
events. Unfortunately, it is a lesson we have had to learn too often, 
at a heavy price in American blood and treasure. What is certain, is 
that intelligence must always be used as a tool of statecraft, not as a 
political tool.
  As this ship performs its missions on behalf of the American people, 
I have full confidence Jack Murtha's patriotic and strong spirit--
Semper Fidelis--will be guiding the vessel if it encounters troubled 
waters as it navigates toward fair winds and following seas.
  I include in the Record the remarks of Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi 
given at the commissioning of the USS John P. Murtha.


      PELOSI REMARKS AT USS JOHN P. MURTHA COMMISSIONING CEREMONY

       Philadelphia.--House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi 
     delivered remarks today, October 8, 2016, at the commission 
     ceremony of the USS John P. Murtha. Below are the Leader's 
     remarks:
       ``Good morning. Thank you very much, Admiral William Moran 
     for your kind introduction but more importantly, for your 
     great leadership. As one that grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, 
     I have a great loyalty to the Naval Academy, so I appreciate 
     your comments about the Navy--but I had four brothers who 
     served in the Army so . . .
       [Laughter and applause]
       ``It is an honor to be with you today, with Secretary 
     Valdez--please give our regards to Secretary Mabus--to Major 
     General Christopher Owens--it is a proud day for all of us to 
     come together for the Navy and the Marine Corps, for the 
     Commissioning of the USS John P. Murtha.
       ``Chairman Murtha--as you have heard--was a legislator of 
     unsurpassed talents, a soldier of extraordinary courage and a 
     public servant to the end. Mr. Brady--my colleague, 
     Congressman Brady is correct: we will never see his light 
     again.
       ``I thank the Murtha family for the opportunity to make 
     this address today. I appreciate this opportunity to bring 
     the greetings and congratulations from Jack Murtha's many 
     friends in the Congress of the United States, on both sides 
     of the aisle, on both sides in the Capitol and all the way 
     down Pennsylvania Avenue.
       ``I am glad to be with my colleagues--present and former--
     the Undersecretary of the Army Patrick Murphy--as he 
     mentioned, the first Iraq veteran to serve in the Congress--
     Congressman Bob Brady, in whose district we are and great 
     friend of Jack Murtha's, Congressman Keith Rothfus, he 
     represents the district that Jack represented in Congress, 
     and as well as Mark Critz, who followed in Jack's footsteps, 
     and Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, who is here as well--who 
     represented Philadelphia in Congress. It is also an honor to 
     be here with Lieutenant Governor Michael Stack--recognizing 
     the important role that Pennsylvania and Philadelphia play in 
     our national security.
       ``It is appropriate for us to be here in Pennsylvania to 
     honor Jack Murtha--a state he loved and was proud to 
     represent and to serve. In the House Chamber--Congressman Bob 
     Brady mentioned the `Pennsylvania Corner'--Jack took great 
     pride that in the House of Representatives, the `Pennsylvania 
     Corner' was the most bipartisan corner in the Chamber. In the 
     Chamber, everyone gravitated toward Jack Murtha--Democrats 
     and Republicans alike.
       ``To Brian Cuccias--Brian and the Ingalls shipbuilders, 
     thank you for the skill, hard work and patriotism of all the 
     men and women of labor who built this fine ship that enters 
     service today. And many of you were in Mississippi when Donna 
     christened the ship. It is wonderful to see so many of you 
     here today. Thank you. Thank you for making today possible.
       [Applause]
       ``Commanding Officer, Captain Kevin J. Parker, it was a 
     privilege to be with you last year in Mississippi at the 
     Murtha's christening when you were the prospective commander, 
     and now at this time-honored commissioning ceremony to become 
     the Commanding Officer--that is when Donna gives the signal. 
     When Donna gives the signal--we're all waiting for her.
       ``And to the sailors and the Marines--the men and women who 
     will crew this ship over the oceans and perhaps ride it into 
     battle, take it to humanitarian assistance--to you,

[[Page E1562]]

     and your families--thank you for honoring our country, all of 
     us with your bravery and service.
       [Applause]
       ``It is a joy to be with the family members, as my 
     colleagues and others have said, Jack's daughter, our ship 
     sponsor, Donna, his sons John and Pat, grandchildren, nephews 
     and nieces and others.
       ``I send the congratulations and thanks of my colleagues in 
     Congress to Joyce--Joyce, the love of Jack's life. She and 
     Jack were both so proud of having this ship named in his 
     honor but Admiral Joyce was very proud to comment that the 
     ship that she christened, the USS Bonhomme Richard, was a 
     bigger ship. Not a competition, though.
       ``Service runs deep in Jack Murtha's family from his 
     brothers, Kit and Jim, to his nephews Brian and Bob--all 
     proud Marines--and his grandson, Lieutenant Jack Murtha in 
     the Air Force, and to Jack's wife, Captain Amanda Murtha.
       ``Today, as you commission, as we all commission, the USS 
     John P. Murtha, I want to tell you a little bit about the man 
     your ship is named for--his legacy of strength, effectiveness 
     and fidelity. As was mentioned by my colleague, as a child, 
     John's grandmother told him: `You are put on this earth to 
     make a difference.' And that's exactly what he did. John P. 
     Murtha dedicated his entire life to the service of our 
     nation.
       ``Jack Murtha was a fiercely proud Marine, who volunteered 
     for combat in Vietnam--earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze 
     Star. In the end, Congressman Murtha would leave the Corps 
     with 37 years of service to his name. How proud he was of 
     that.
       ``In the Congress, Chairman Murtha was a formidable 
     legislator and a towering leader. To watch Jack Murtha 
     legislate was to observe a master at work. But more 
     indicative of his character was to watch him communicate, 
     with our troops in theater, at the Pentagon, and in their 
     hospital rooms.
       ``His experiences in the battlefield of Vietnam was what 
     fueled his boundless dedication to our men and women in 
     uniform--with that connection to those warriors he frequently 
     visited in Washington, across the country and around the 
     world.
       ``A few of us had the privilege of traveling in bipartisan 
     delegations with Jack--and this one in particular to Kuwait, 
     a few weeks before the initiation of hostilities into Iraq--
     we observed the level of detail with which Jack conversed 
     with the soldiers, whether it was the comfort of the seats in 
     their Humvees--how much they could endure as they did their 
     jobs--responding to their needs, providing body and vehicle 
     armor and reliable radios--you name it. Again, not just the 
     big picture, but down to the personal comfort and safety of 
     our troops.
       ``In those moments, Jack bonded with them, sharing his own 
     personal military experiences, and caring for them really as 
     a father--as Secretary Murtha said, he treated them as 
     family. And they returned his respect.
       ``We often saw this when he would take groups of us--as Bob 
     mentioned--take groups of us on regular visits to our wounded 
     warriors in the hospitals. One day as we were going into one 
     of the rooms and the nurse came and said, `Hold up. Hold up 
     for a while.' We wanted to be very respectful and sensitive 
     to the privacy of the soldiers. But when we walked in to the 
     room, we saw a young, injured soldier standing at attention 
     by his bed and saluting Jack Murtha wearing a Pittsburgh 
     Steelers jersey right after they had won the Super Bowl.
       [Applause]
       ``That was football but it was very personal with Jack.
       ``It is important to note that Jack defined our nation's 
     strength, not only in our military might--as important as our 
     military is and the priority that it is--but also our 
     strength is measured by Jack in the health and well being of 
     the American people.
       ``Chairman Murtha fought for the armed forces--whether it 
     was for what they needed, for our troops, facilities--but he 
     also fought to advance scientific research to seek treatments 
     and cures for breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, and 
     HIV/AIDS--the list goes on and on. Today, at Walter Reed, the 
     John P. Murtha Cancer Center carries forward his commitment 
     to the health of our entire community.

       ``John Murtha made a difference--for our national defense, 
     for our nation's health, for the men and women who wear our 
     nation's uniform.
       ``Commander Parker, as this fine ship comes alive with her 
     outstanding crew, the strength of the USS John P. Murtha will 
     embody our nation's promise to stand with you and your crew--
     through the storm and the calm, both as you defend democracy 
     abroad, and when you come home safely. And when our men and 
     women in uniform come home, Jack wanted them to feel safe as 
     well.
       ``In the military, he always told us: on the battlefield, 
     we leave no soldier behind. And when they come home, we leave 
     no veteran behind. So I join all of those saluting our 
     veterans who are here today. That was a priority for Jack 
     Murtha.
       [Applause]
       `` `Semper Fi' was the watchword of Jack Murtha's life. And 
     always faithful he was: to his principles, to his promises, 
     to his family and to the nation he loved.
       ``As we place the Murtha into active service, we also renew 
     our pledge to also always be faithful to you--the sailors and 
     Marines who will board her today, and to every crew who 
     follows.
       ``Like John P. Murtha, each of you has stepped forward and 
     answered the call to `make a difference'--for our country, 
     and for the world. Be proud of the legacy that has been 
     passed down to you, be proud of your ship's namesake and 
     motto, and be proud of the values you share.
       ``May God bless the USS John P. Murtha.
       ``May God bless the brave men and women who will serve 
     aboard it--and the privilege of serving as the first crew for 
     one of these great ships, who will be transported within it--
     and the families who wait for their safe return. You are 
     family to all of us. You will always be in our prayers.
       ``May God bless you and may God bless the United States of 
     America.''

                          ____________________