[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 23158-23159]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    225TH BIRTHDAY OF THE U.S. NAVY

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Armed 
Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
373, and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 373) recognizing the 225th birthday 
     of the United States Navy.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, today it is my pleasure to pay 
tribute to the United States Navy as it celebrates the 225th 
anniversary of its founding. The Navy can be proud of a distinguished 
heritage, a heritage longer than that of the United States itself. 
Because of the dedicated service of our nation's sailors, Americans can 
feel secure that our shores are free from foreign aggression, and the 
world's oceans and seaways are open for peaceful commerce. The recent 
terrorist attack on the U.S.S. Cole, resulting in the death or presumed 
death of 17 sailors, reminds us of the personal risk that the members 
of our Navy bravely face every day, in peacetime as well as wartime.
  On October 13, 1775, the Second Continental Congress authorized the 
acquisition of ships and establishment of a navy. Within a few days, a 
Naval Committee was established to coordinate the purchase of ships and 
the recruitment of personnel, and to draft rules regulating the Navy's 
administration. Although the Continental Navy of the Revolutionary War 
was rather humble compared to today's Navy--it was made up of only 40 
vessels at its peak--it played an important role in the miraculous 
success of the American Revolution. The Navy was able to seize almost 
200 British ships as prizes, including many off the British coast, and 
this forced the British to divert valuable warships to the protection 
of transport convoys. It was in one of these raids that the legendary 
John Paul Jones uttered his immortal words: ``I have not yet begun to 
fight!'' And this spirit of unflagging courage and selfless discharge 
of duty has animated the hearts of every sailor since.
  Our Founding Fathers saw the role of the Navy as important enough to 
merit

[[Page 23159]]

specific mention in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which 
empowers Congress to ``provide and maintain a Navy.'' As American 
history has unfolded since then, the U.S. Navy has distinguished itself 
in every major armed conflict in the history of our country, from the 
War of 1812 and the Civil War all the way to the Gulf War and the 
conflict in Kosovo.
  As we enter the 21st century, the U.S. Navy is without question the 
preeminent sea power in the world. On October 2, 2000, the active fleet 
contained 318 ships and 4,108 aircraft, and over 373,000 active-duty 
personnel filled the Navy's ranks. The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis 
provides its midshipmen with an academically rigorous curriculum, and 
no less important, leadership and character development. This rigorous 
preparation continues at a more advanced level at the Naval War 
College, which teaches the latest naval doctrine and strategy to senior 
and mid-level officers. Thanks to these prestigious institutions, the 
U.S. Navy boasts the finest and best qualified naval officers in the 
world, and the ability to face with confidence any challenge to 
American security.
  According to the Navy, its mission is to ``maintain, train and equip 
combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression 
and maintaining freedom of the seas.'' No matter where a sailor serves, 
whether on an aircraft carrier, submarine, battleship, cruiser, or 
naval base, his or her contribution is vital to fulfilling this 
mission. The Navy's worldwide reach allows our country to maintain U.S. 
national security through dominance of the seas, a dominance made 
possible by a combination of highly trained service members and highly 
sophisticated technology.
  I'd like to take this opportunity to thank in particular those 
Minnesotans who have served, or are currently serving, in the Navy. I 
am proud of them, and they should know that their sacrifices on behalf 
of the cause of freedom are not taken for granted by their friends and 
neighbors in Minnesota.
  I'm sure my colleagues will join me in recognizing the rich heritage 
and dedicated service of the United States Navy on its 
anniversary.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 373) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 373

       Whereas on Friday, October 13, 1775, the Continental 
     Congress, representing the citizens of 13 American colonies, 
     passed a resolution which stated ``That a swift sailing 
     vessel, to carry ten carriage guns, and a proportionable 
     number of swivels, with eighty men, be fitted, with all 
     possible dispatch, for a cruise of three months, and that the 
     commander be instructed to cruise eastward, for intercepting 
     such transports as may be laden with warlike stores and other 
     supplies for our enemies, and for such other purposes as the 
     Congress shall direct.'';
       Whereas the founders recognized the essential nature of a 
     Navy to the strength and longevity of the Nation by providing 
     authority to Congress ``To provide and maintain a Navy'' in 
     article I of the Constitution;
       Whereas a Naval Committee was established to build a 
     fitting Navy for our fledgling country, acquire and fit out 
     vessels for sea, and draw up regulations;
       Whereas the Continental Navy began a proud tradition, 
     carried out for 225 years by our United States Navy, to 
     protect our island Nation and pursue the causes of freedom we 
     hold so dear;
       Whereas, for the past 225 years, the central mission of the 
     Navy has been to protect the interests of our Nation around 
     the world on the high seas, to fight and win the wars of our 
     Nation, and to maintain control of the sea lines of 
     communication enabling this Nation and other free nations to 
     grow and prosper;
       Whereas, whether in peace or at war, United States citizens 
     around the world can rest assured that the United States Navy 
     is on watch, ever vigilant, and ready to respond;
       Whereas, for the past 225 years, Navy men and women, as 
     both ambassadors and warriors, have won extraordinary 
     distinction and respect for the Nation and its Navy on the 
     high seas, among the ocean depths, on distant shores, and in 
     the skies above;
       Whereas the core values of ``Honor, Courage, and 
     Commitment'' are the guides by which United States sailors 
     live and serve;
       Whereas the United States Navy today is the most capable, 
     most respected, and most effective sea service in the world;
       Whereas 75 percent of the land masses in the world are 
     bounded by water and 75 percent of the population of the 
     world lives within 100 miles of the sea, assuring that our 
     Naval forces will continue to be called upon to respond to 
     emerging crises, to maintain freedom of the sea, to deter 
     would-be aggressors, and to provide our allies with a visible 
     reassurance of the support of the United States of America; 
     and
       Whereas, no matter what the cause, location, or magnitude 
     of future conflicts, the Nation can rely on its Navy to 
     produce well-trained, well-led, and highly motivated sailors 
     to carry out the missions entrusted to them: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the historic significance of the 225th 
     birthday of the United States Navy;
       (2) expresses the appreciation of the people of the United 
     States to the Navy, and the men and women who have served in 
     the Navy, for 225 years of dedicated service;
       (3) honors the courage, commitment, and sacrifice that 
     Americans have made throughout the history of the Navy; and
       (4) gives special thanks to the extended Navy family of 
     civilians, family members, and loved ones who have served and 
     supported the Navy for the past 225 years.

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