Christopher P. Carney

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 24, a bill to redesignate the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. This legislation was passed out of this chamber on a voice vote yesterday. Had a recorded vote been requested on the bill, I would like the Record to reflect that I would have cast a vote in opposition.

I have been a member of the United States Navy for more than 15 years and I am proud to be one of three Members of Congress still serving in the Navy Reserve.

Not a day goes by that I don't recognize the sacrifices the brave men and women of the Marine Corps have made in service to our country. Frankly, there isn't a sight that brings more fear to our enemy than that of an approaching line of determined Marines with a mission to execute.

Past, present and future Marines should certainly be proud of the Corps, but also of the Department of the Navy. The Marine Corps was, is, and should remain, part of the Navy, both in name and in mission. A name change at the Department level will do nothing but foster animosity in the ranks of the Navy and Marine Corps. We should focus instead on the fight at hand and not worry about a change in nomenclature. Unfortunately, the spirit of H.R. 24 is counter to that notion.

Changing the name of the Department of Navy would cast away over 200 years of tradition. Our founding fathers created the Department of the Navy in 1798. Passing legislation by voice vote that simply does away with the name ``United States Department of the Navy'' is a disservice to the history of the Department and its various components. Millions of sailors and Marines have been killed or maimed in service to our Nation as part of the Department of the Navy. That name meant something to them and it should to all of us as well.

As the esteemed body on the other side of this building considers this bill, I hope that it will examine all potential repercussions. Namely, they should consider the traditions the United States Navy holds dear.

I encourage my fellow statesmen to speak both with Navy leadership and Navy veterans in their district before casting a vote in support of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, April 13, I was unable to cast my vote on three suspension bills.

Had I been present, I would like the record to reflect that I would have voted: ``yes'' on rollcall vote 196, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 197, and ``yes'' on rollcall vote 198.

Thank you, Mr. Kanjorski, the new dean. I know that is probably a hard title to accept now under these circumstances.

It's interesting, I was listening to Mr. Larson speak, and I truly wish that every American had the opportunity to be in Johnstown on Monday night last to be part of the wake we had because it was truly a celebration of a man who deserves to be celebrated, but it was very striking in the bipartisanship that was displayed there. Friends on both sides of the aisle came to honor the man who was--and the word is not overused in this case--a giant, who knew how to fight for what he believed in, but also knew the art of the possible.

One thing Jack taught me a long time ago is that we are judged on this Earth not by what we don't do, but what we do. That is how I think we all

have to proceed as Members of Congress in this body that we are privileged to be elected to serve. And here is a man who fought for everything he believed in.

Back in 2006, a number of us had the privilege of meeting Jack. He became our mentor when we came into power as the majority party again. And it was his leadership, his tutelage, and his guidance that got us here. And the fact of the matter is, when you came to Jack with a problem, especially one that dealt with the troops, he was going to take care of it.

Before my tenure here in Congress I was a professor at Penn State, and I had a student who was deployed to Iraq in the first wave of the invasion. He came back from Iraq and told me that, When we were there, we had to go through Iraqi junkyards to find scrap metal to lob onto our trucks for more protection. When I told Jack that story, that kind Irish face of his hardened, those blue eyes didn't twinkle quite as much, and that grin firmed up. He said, By God, we're going to fix that. And by God, he fixed that.

Jack, we are going to miss you. We are going to look back in that corner. We are going to know that we are not whole just yet, but we will remember the lessons you taught us and the leadership you provided.

Godspeed, soldier.