[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Senate]
[Pages 31911-31912]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 55--COMMEMORATING THE CENTENNIAL 
    ANNIVERSARY OF THE SAILING OF THE NAVY'S ``GREAT WHITE FLEET'', 
  LAUNCHED BY PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT ON DECEMBER 16, 1907, FROM 
   HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA, AND RETURNING THERE ON FEBRUARY 22, 1909

  Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. Webb) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                            S. Con. Res. 55

       Whereas the launching of the Great White Fleet marked the 
     emergence of the United States as a true global seapower, 
     able to dispatch 16 new battleships on a worldwide deployment 
     for 14 months;
       Whereas these battleships were painted entirely white, with 
     gilded scrollwork on their bows, and subsequently came to be 
     known as the ``Great White Fleet'';
       Whereas the 4 squadrons of 4 battleships each, manned by 
     14,000 sailors, sailed 43,000 miles and made 20 port calls on 
     6 continents;
       Whereas the Fleet, in conducting visits to important 
     nations such as Australia, served to reinforce a friendship 
     and partnership that continues to this day;
       Whereas the Fleet, in providing a tangible demonstration of 
     the forward naval presence of the United States in the 
     Pacific, also reinforced the message of how important 
     maritime stability and security are to the United States;
       Whereas the Fleet, in response to one of the worst natural 
     disasters in European history, was able to immediately divert 
     to Messina, Sicily, to offer humanitarian aid to the Italian 
     people; and
       Whereas the Fleet, in executing a range of missions and 
     returning to the United States after 14 months at sea, 
     displayed to the world a number of core American values, 
     including compassion, showed its flexibility by responding to 
     unforeseen events, and demonstrated the ability of the United 
     States to project maritime power as a stabilizing force: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) commemorates the wisdom of President Theodore Roosevelt 
     in developing and launching the Great White Fleet;
       (2) supports a one-time designation of a day to celebrate 
     the 100th centennial of the Great White Fleet and the special 
     role the Fleet played in building enduring friendships with 
     important allies and partner nations;
       (3) commends efforts by the Department of the Navy to 
     maintain and strengthen our cooperative partnerships with 
     foreign nations and to safeguard our Nation's interests in 
     the maritime domain;

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       (4) commends efforts by the Department of the Navy in 
     leading the development of a Cooperative Strategy for 21st 
     Century Seapower; and
       (5) honors the sacrifices made and services rendered by the 
     servicemembers of the Navy, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard 
     and the civilians who constitute our maritime services.

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