[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 261 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 261
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 12, 2007
Received and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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.
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 House of Representatives (the Senate 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;
(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.
Passed the House of Representatives December 11, 2007.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.