[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 468. Mr. GRAHAM (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2226, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle C of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1025. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE NAMING OF THE NEXT 
                   AVAILABLE NAVAL VESSEL AFTER MAJOR JAMES 
                   ``JIM'' CAPERS, JR.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) James ``Jim'' Capers, Jr. served with great heroism and 
     devotion as a member of the United States Marine Corps.
       (2) James Capers, Jr. was the first African American to 
     receive a battlefield commission and to command a Marine 
     Corps Force Reconnaissance company.
       (3) During his service to the United States in Vietnam, 
     James Capers, Jr. was awarded the United States' third-
     highest military combat decoration for his actions in the 
     vicinity of Phu Loc, Republic of Vietnam, from March 31 to 
     April 3, 1967.
       (4) In addition to being awarded the Silver Star, James 
     Capers, Jr. is the recipient of two Bronze Stars with ``V'' 
     for valor, three Purple Hearts, and numerous other 
     decorations, making him one of the most decorated Marines in 
     Force Reconnaissance history.
       (5) During the 1970s, James Capers, Jr. became a national 
     figure as the face of the Marine Corps in a national 
     recruitment campaign.
       (6) James Capers, Jr. retired in 1978, with the rank of 
     major, having participated in more than 50 classified 
     missions during his time in service.
       (7) Retired Major James Capers, Jr. personifies the core 
     values of honor, courage, and commitment and should be 
     honored in a manner fitting to his service and devotion to 
     the United States.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress 
     that the Secretary of the Navy should name the next available 
     naval vessel after retired United States Marine Corps Major 
     James ``Jim'' Capers, Jr. for his service and devotion to the 
     United States.
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