[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 129 (Thursday, July 22, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 315--COMMENDING THE SERVICE OF HAMILTON-CLASS COAST 
       GUARD CUTTERS AND THE OFFICERS AND CREW WHO SERVED ON THEM

  Mr. WICKER (for himself, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
Sullivan, Mr. Cassidy, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 315

       Whereas the first Hamilton-class cutter was the United 
     States Coast Guard Cutter (referred to in this preamble as 
     ``USCGC'') Hamilton, which was placed in full commission on 
     March 18, 1967;
       Whereas USCGC Mellon, USCGC Chase, USCGC Dallas, USCGC 
     Boutwell, USCGC Sherman, USCGC Gallatin, USCGC Morgenthau, 
     USCGC Rush, USCGC Munro, USCGC Midgett, and USCGC Jarvis 
     completed the class of high endurance cutters and were 1 of 
     the most highly versatile and capable vessels at the time of 
     their construction at Avondale Shipyards in Louisiana;
       Whereas Hamilton-class cutters courageously supported 
     multiple peacetime and wartime operations during their time 
     in active service, including Operation Market Time, Operation 
     Urgent Fury, Operation Vigilant Sentinel, Operation Deny 
     Flight, and Operation Iraqi Freedom;
       Whereas Hamilton-class cutters conducted illegal narcotics 
     interdictions totaling 3,300,000 pounds and $23,600,000,000 
     in market value, including the interdiction conducted by 
     USCGC Hamilton and USCGC Sherman of the M/V Gatun, which 
     discovered 20 metric tons of illegal narcotics with an 
     estimated street value of $600,000,000 for the largest 
     narcotics interdiction in United States history at the time;
       Whereas Hamilton-class cutters have saved thousands of 
     lives during search and rescue operations at sea, including 
     the rescue conducted by USCGC Boutwell and USCGC Mellon of 
     all 520 passengers and crew of the M/S Prinsendam, 1 of the 
     largest at-sea rescues in Coast Guard history;
       Whereas Hamilton-class cutters received excellent shoreside 
     support at Coast Guard homeports in Alaska, California, 
     Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, and 
     Washington, allowing the cutters to perform admirably past 
     their service life;
       Whereas the Mississippi-built National Security Cutter 
     replaced the Hamilton-class cutter to continue the storied 
     success of high endurance Coast Guard cutters at sea;
       Whereas USCGC Douglas Munro, formerly known as USCGC Munro, 
     decommissioned on April 24, 2021, ending over 54 years of 
     service of Hamilton-class cutters to the United States;
       Whereas Coast Guard cutters remain a vital component of 
     United States capability across the globe in serving to 
     protect life at sea, deterring illicit activity, and ensuring 
     the continuance of the international rules-based order at all 
     levels of the competition continuum;
       Whereas the increasing global complexity and expanding 
     demand for Coast Guard services necessitates the best people, 
     modern technology, resilient infrastructure, and highly 
     capable assets; and
       Whereas Congress must recognize the importance of 
     maximizing afloat readiness for the Coast Guard by supporting 
     personnel, investing in mission-enabling technologies, and 
     modernizing assets: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the success of the Hamilton-class cutters in 
     service to the United States;
       (2) commends the officers and crew of Hamilton-class 
     cutters for their technical excellence, accomplishments, 
     professionalism, and sacrifices;
       (3) supports the role of Coast Guard cutters and their 
     importance to national security, law enforcement at sea, and 
     homeland defense; and
       (4) applauds the Coast Guard for continuing to advance the 
     capabilities of the fleet with the National Security Cutter 
     to adapt to the growing need for a global Coast Guard 
     presence.

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