[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 298 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 298
Recognizing Connecticut's Submarine Century, the 100th anniversary of
the establishment of Naval Submarine Base New London, and Connecticut's
historic role in supporting the undersea capabilities of the United
States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 26, 2015
Mr. Blumenthal (for himself and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
February 11, 2016
Considered and agreed to with an amended preamble
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing Connecticut's Submarine Century, the 100th anniversary of
the establishment of Naval Submarine Base New London, and Connecticut's
historic role in supporting the undersea capabilities of the United
States.
Whereas, on March 2, 1867, Congress enacted a naval appropriations Act that
authorized the Secretary of the Navy to ``receive and accept a deed of
gift, when offered by the State of Connecticut, of a tract of land with
not less than one mile of shore front on the Thames River near New
London, Connecticut, to be held by the United States for naval
purposes'';
Whereas the people of Connecticut and the towns and cities in the southeastern
region of Connecticut subsequently gifted land to establish a military
installation to fulfil the Nation's need for a naval facility on the
Atlantic coast;
Whereas, on April 11, 1868, the Navy accepted the deed of gift of land from
Connecticut to establish a naval yard and storage depot along the
eastern shore of the Thames River in Groton, Connecticut;
Whereas, between 1868 and 1912, the New London Navy Yard supported a diverse
range of missions, including berthing inactive Civil War era ironclad
warships and serving as a coaling station for refueling naval ships
traveling in New England waters;
Whereas Congress rejected the Navy's proposal to close New London Navy Yard in
1912, following an impassioned effort by Congressman Edwin W. Higgins,
who stated that this ``action proposed is not only unjust but
unreasonable and unsound as a military proposition'';
Whereas the outbreak of World War I and the enemy use of submarines to sink
allied military and civilian ships in the Atlantic sparked a new focus
on developing submarine capabilities in the United States;
Whereas October 18, 1915, marked the arrival at the New London Navy Yard of the
submarines G-1, G-2, and G-4 under the care of the tender USS OZARK,
soon followed by the arrival of submarines E-1, D-1, and D-3 under the
care of the tender USS TONOPAH, and on November 1, 1915, the arrival of
the first ship built as a submarine tender, the USS FULTON (AS-1);
Whereas, on June 21, 1916, Commander Yeates Stirling assumed the command of the
newly designated Naval Submarine Base New London, the New London
Submarine Flotilla, and the Submarine School;
Whereas in the 100 years since the arrival of the first submarines to the base,
Naval Submarine Base New London has grown to occupy more than 680 acres
along the east side of the Thames River, with more than 160 major
facilities, 15 nuclear submarines, and more than 70 tenant commands and
activities, including the Submarine Learning Center, Naval Submarine
School, the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, the Naval
Undersea Medical Institute, and the newly established Undersea
Warfighting Development Center;
Whereas in addition to being the site of the first submarine base in the United
States, Connecticut was home to the foremost submarine manufacturers of
the time, the Lake Torpedo Boat Company in Bridgeport and the Electric
Boat Company in Groton, which later became General Dynamics Electric
Boat;
Whereas General Dynamics Electric Boat, its talented workforce, and its
Connecticut-based and nationwide network of suppliers have delivered
more than 200 submarines from its current location in Groton,
Connecticut, including the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS
NAUTILUS (SSN 571), and nearly half of the nuclear submarines ever built
by the United States;
Whereas the Submarine Force Library and Museum, located adjacent to Naval
Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, is the only submarine
museum operated by the United States Navy and today serves as the
primary repository for artifacts, documents, and photographs relating to
the bold and courageous history of the Submarine Force and highlights as
its core exhibit the Historic Ship NAUTILUS (SSN 571) following her
retirement from service;
Whereas reflecting the close ties between Connecticut and the Navy that began
with the gift of land that established the base, the State of
Connecticut has set aside $40,000,000 in funding for critical
infrastructure investments to support the mission of the base, including
construction of a new dive locker building, expansion of the Submarine
Learning Center, and modernization of energy infrastructure;
Whereas, on September 29, 2015, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy designated
October 2015 through October 2016 as Connecticut's Submarine Century, a
year-long observance that celebrates 100 years of submarine activity in
Connecticut, including the Town of Groton's distinction as the Submarine
Capital of the World, to coincide with the centennial anniversary of the
establishment of Naval Submarine Base New London and the Naval Submarine
School;
Whereas Naval Submarine Base New London still proudly proclaims its motto of
``The First and Finest''; and
Whereas Congressman Higgins' statement before Congress in 1912 that
``Connecticut stands ready, as she always has, to bear her part of the
burdens of the national defense'' remains true today: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) commends the longstanding dedication and contribution
to the Navy and submarine force by the people of Connecticut,
both through the initial deed of gift that established what
would become Naval Submarine Base New London and through their
ongoing commitment to support the mission of the base and the
Navy personnel assigned to it;
(2) honors the submariners who have trained and served at
Naval Submarine Base New London throughout its history in
support of the Nation's security and undersea superiority;
(3) recognizes the contribution of the industry and
workforce of Connecticut in designing, building, and sustaining
the Navy's submarine fleet; and
(4) encourages the recognition of Connecticut's Submarine
Century by Congress, the Navy, and the American people by
honoring the contribution of the people of Connecticut to the
defense of the United States and the important role of the
submarine force in safeguarding the security of the United
States for more than a century.
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