Congratulating the Sailors of the United States Submarine Force upon the completion of 1,000 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) deterrent patrols.

Madam Speaker, I introduced this resolution, H. Con. Res. 129, to recognize the achievements of the U.S. Submarine Force for the completion of the 1,000th Trident strategic deterrent patrol earlier this year. It is fitting that we take a moment to recall the sacrifices made by these submariners and their families to defend our freedoms and protect our way of life.

For over 27 years, Ohio-class ballistic missile means, or SSBNs, have been our most survivable form of deterrence. As a result of the commitment to excellence by everyone associated with the SSBN program, our strategic missile submarines have always been ready and vigilant, reassuring our allies and deterring those who might seek to do us harm. Our ballistic missile submarines provided essential deterrence during the Cold War, and their contributions will forever be a part of our Nation's history. Today, these elite submarines remain on the front lines of freedom. Through their silent patrols, they will preserve peace for many years to come.

The success of the Trident program and the protection it continues to provide is a result of the sacrifices of a broad array of organizations and individuals: the submarine industrial base, which provides the advanced technologies and highest quality equipment for these ships; the maintenance facilities and their technicians and engineers who work to a demanding timeline and under difficult constraints to keep these boats ready for sea; the submarine training facilities which ensure that our sailors are trained and ready to perform their missions under any circumstances; and not least, the sailors and their families who dedicate their lives to supporting our Nation. Their sacrifice year after year is a large part of our Nation's greatness.

Because I come from the Puget Sound region in the State of Washington, I have had the opportunity to watch the successes of the Trident submarine program from its inception. Back in 1972, the Navy decided that the Puget Sound would be the west coast home port for its newest class of strategic missile submarine, the Ohio-class submarines, the Ohio-class SSBN.

In August 1982, the lead ship, USS Ohio, arrived on the Bangor waterfront to start her operational life. Ohio was followed by seven more Trident boats, each taking up its responsibilities in this strategic defense of our Nation. Of the original 18 Trident SSBNs in the U.S. inventory, eight now call the Puget Sound their home and continue their crucial strategic deterrent role.

Additionally, after 24 years in operation, the first four SSBNs-- Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and Georgia--have been converted into cruise missile submarines. Two of these platforms, Ohio and Michigan, continue their service from the Bangor submarine base in this new role. The remaining six Ohio-class SSBNs and two cruise missile submarines carry out their essential duties from the naval submarine base at Kings Bay, Georgia.

It is truly fitting that we recognize the achievements of our Trident submariners and their families over the past 27 years. We look to them to continue to build upon their legacy of excellent service to the United States in the years ahead.

I want to thank my colleagues, Mr. Kissell, Mr. Wittman, who have joined me in supporting this resolution; and I urge all of my colleagues to support it with their votes.

I would just add one thing: this is such an important program--and I have been on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee for 31 years--that we are now starting a follow-on to the Trident submarine program. And I can remember when we had great debates here in the House on whether we should do a B-2 bomber and whether we should have an MX missile. The one thing that we always understood is that the most survivable element of our strategic triad were these Trident submarines, and I commend Admiral Rickover and all of those who followed him for the great work that they did in inspiring these concepts, and it has been of great value to our country.

So I appreciate the gentleman from North Carolina yielding to me, and I appreciate you bringing this resolution to the floor. And I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 129) congratulating the Sailors of the United States Submarine Force upon the completion of 1,000 Ohio- class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) deterrent patrols.

Madam Speaker, I request unanimous consent for Members to be able to extend and revise their remarks during the next 5 days.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 129, and I want to thank Representative Dicks from Washington for his work in bringing this resolution to the floor. It is an opportunity for us as a House of Representatives to congratulate the Navy and the sailors of our ballistic submarine fleet upon the completion of 1,000 missions, that's 1,000 missions of deterrence and protecting our Nation. This silent service, the Ohio- class submarine, the highest of technology, the greatest of sailors, and the most stealthy of operations, has been in service protecting our Nation since the first cruise of the USS Ohio in 1982.

This is not an easy service. Only 5 percent of all our sailors are qualified to serve in our ballistic submarine fleet. The highest of technologies and the advancements that we have seen as a Nation are represented in this classification of service also.

Oftentimes, our sailors are on duty for 77 or more straight days and they come back then to work 35 days of maintenance. It puts a tremendous burden upon them. But, once again, these are the highest qualified of individuals that you can find, because when they are on their ship, they have to have the knowledge of the technology to the most minute of details to be able to service the ship as needed and to complete the mission. And they have an A-plus rating for these years of service during the 1,000 missions that they have brought to us.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks).

I would like to, at this point in time, thank my colleagues from Virginia (Mr. Wittman) and from Washington (Mr. Dicks) for their words about this resolution, the importance of this resolution.

This branch of service in the Navy, to the crews of the 14, these Ohio-class submarines, we offer our appreciation and thanks to the people that make it work, all of the listings of people that were given, but especially to the friends and the families of these crew members that, without them and their support for these crews, it would make this work extremely much harder than what it is already during the times of separation and trials that exist upon the families.

This branch of service remains strong. It is a clear deterrent to threats that our Nation may incur. We once again congratulate this branch of service on its 1,000th mission of deterrence and 1,000th successful mission.

I reserve my time.

Madam Speaker, at this point in time I would like to encourage all of my colleagues to join in voting ``aye'' on H. Con. Res. 129 to honor the Navy once again and the sailors in the Ohio-class submarines, the silent service, for its great work and successful 1,000 missions.

I yield back my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to share my colleagues' congratulations to the sailors of the United States Navy's Submarine Force following the completion of the 1,000th Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine deterrent patrol. This is no small feat and has been made possible only through the combined efforts of our dedicated sailors, the talented civilians employed at the Trident Refit and Weapons Facilities, the disciplined workforce of the naval reactors, and the industrial base that has delivered such reliable submarines and Trident missile systems.

The ballistic missile submarine, or SSBN, is the critical third leg of our nuclear triad, and in many ways this capability is the most stealthy, delivering unparalleled firepower and near limitless endurance that poses a significant deterrent to potential aggressors armed with nuclear weapons. Likewise, our allies have relied on the shield provided by our ballistic missile submarines, which can operate unmolested in virtually any part of the world.

Yet this deterrent capability comes at a significant personal cost to the Submarine Force, its crews, and their families. Since the first patrol of the USS Ohio in 1982 through today, these families have endured long periods of noncommunication with their loved ones and tense waiting for their safe return.

Therefore, despite the extraordinary technological achievement and reliability epitomized by the SSBN, the true strength of the ballistic submarine lies in the extraordinarily talented and motivated sailors who have voluntarily chosen to serve in the submarine community and are among the most highly skilled, educated, and trained war fighters in the U.S. military.

Today we thank and honor the crews of the ballistic missile submarines, the civilian and industrial workforces that strive to preserve the submarines' reliability and technological superiority, and the devoted families of the Submarine Force for their continued dedication and sacrifice.

Finally, I would like to thank all of my colleagues who cosponsored this resolution, especially Representative Dicks of Washington for drafting this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank again Mr. Dicks from the State of Washington and his leadership and his vision especially as we progress from the Ohio-class of submarine to the next generation. He is certainly right, the Ohio-class has been an integral part of the triad of the defense of this Nation. It is critically important that we plan now for the next generation of submarine that will eventually replace the Ohio-class.

And I applaud his vision, his leadership in recognizing the importance of the Ohio-class but also the efforts that make sure that we have that next class that provides for the defense of this Nation.

And I'd like to thank Mr. Kissell, too, for his leadership and his recognition of the importance of the Ohio-class submarine and also the importance of the next class of the replacement for the Ohio-class for the future defense of this Nation.

With that, Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I yield back my time.

Madam Speaker, due to the death of a family member, I was absent from the House for the week of November 30 and thus not recorded for any votes that week. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following way on bills considered by the House:

On rollcall vote No. 911, on H.R. 3029, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 912, on H.R. 727, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 913, on H.R. 3667, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 914, on H. Res. 494, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 915, on H. Con. Res. 129, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 916, on H. Res. 861, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 917, on H. Res. 897, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 918, on H.R. 3634, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 919, on H.R. 515, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 920, on H. Con. Res. 197, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 921, on H.R. 1242, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 922, on H.R. 3980, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 923, on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 924, on H. Res. 941, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 925, on approving the Journal, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 926, on H. Res. 28, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 927, on the Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 928, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``nay'';

On rollcall vote No. 929, on H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 930, on H.R. 3570, I would have voted ``yea''.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 and Wednesday, December 2, 2009.

For Tuesday, December 1, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 911, on motion to suspend the

rules and agree to H.R. 3029; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 912, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 727; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 913, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3667.

For Wednesday, December 2, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 914, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 494; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 915, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 129; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 916, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 861; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 917, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 897; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 918, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3634; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 919, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 515; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 920, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 197; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 921, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 1242; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 922, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3980.