[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 27630-27631]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           LAYING THE KEEL OF U.S.S. GERALD R. FROD (CVN-78)

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                        Monday, November 9, 2009

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, on November 14, 2009, Northrop Grumman will 
lay the keel of the first ship of the new Gerald R. Ford class of 
nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), 
in Newport News, Virginia. Susan Ford Bales, the daughter of President 
Ford, is the ship's sponsor and will serve as the keel authenticator 
for the ceremony.

[[Page 27631]]

  President Ford was a good friend of mine, and I am honored to hold 
his former seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2006, I 
supported an amendment to the 2007 national defense authorization bill, 
offered by then Senator John Warner, which expressed the sense of 
Congress that the CVN-78 should be named after President Gerald R. 
Ford. On January 16, 2007, the U.S. Navy followed Congress's 
instruction and announced that CVN-78 would be so named. Consequently, 
CVN-78 and other carriers built to the same design all will be referred 
to as ``Ford class carriers.''
  The Gerald R. Ford class carrier design is the successor to the 
Nimitz class design, and it incorporates several improvements, such as 
allowing more sorties per day and requiring fewer sailors for its 
operations and maintenance. Expected to enter into service in 2015, the 
U.S.S. Gerald Ford, and its Ford class successors, will ensure that the 
U.S. Navy, and policymakers, will continue to have the assets they need 
to adequately defend our nation and protect our allies and interests 
around the globe.
  President Ford served his country honorably and faithfully for more 
than 60 years, first as a Navy officer during World War II, then as a 
Congressman, Vice President and finally as President and former 
President. I believe it is fitting that we name this next class of 
aircraft carriers after President Ford, and I look forward to 
monitoring the future success of the U.S.S. Ford.

                          ____________________