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[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.
```