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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 318 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 318

Honoring the 129 sailors and civilians lost aboard the U.S.S. Thresher 
(SSN 593) on April 10, 1963; extending the gratitude of the Nation for 
      their last, full measure of devotion; and acknowledging the 
 contributions of the Naval Submarine Service and the Portsmouth Naval 
                Shipyard to the defense of this Nation.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                 June 7 (legislative day, June 6), 2000

  Ms. Snowe (for herself, Mr. Smith of New Hampshire, Mr. Gregg, Ms. 
    Collins, Mr. Warner, Mr. Robb, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Levin, and Mr. 
 Kennedy) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Honoring the 129 sailors and civilians lost aboard the U.S.S. Thresher 
(SSN 593) on April 10, 1963; extending the gratitude of the Nation for 
      their last, full measure of devotion; and acknowledging the 
 contributions of the Naval Submarine Service and the Portsmouth Naval 
                Shipyard to the defense of this Nation.

Whereas this is the 100th year of service to the people of the United States by 
        the United States Navy submarine force, the ``Silent Service'';
Whereas this is the 200th year of service to the Nation of the Portsmouth Naval 
        Shipyard;
Whereas Portsmouth Naval Shipyard launched the first Navy built submarine, the 
        L-8, on April 23, 1917;
Whereas 52 years and 133 submarines later, on November 11, 1969, Portsmouth 
        Naval Shipyard launched the last submarine built by the Navy, the U.S.S. 
        Sand Lance;
Whereas the U.S.S. Thresher was launched at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on July 9, 
        1960;
Whereas the U.S.S. Thresher departed Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on April 9, 1963, 
        with a crew of 129 composed of 16 officers, 96 sailors, and 17 
        civilians;
Whereas the mix of that crew reflects the unity of the naval submarine service, 
        military and civilian, in the protection of the Nation;
Whereas at approximately 7:45 a.m. on April 10, 1963, at a location near 41.46 
        degrees North latitude and 65.03 degrees West longitude, the U.S.S. 
        Thresher began her final mission;
Whereas the U.S.S. Thresher was declared lost with all hands on April 10, 1963;
Whereas from the loss of that submarine, there arose the SUBSAFE program which 
        has kept America's submariners safe at sea ever since as the strongest, 
        safest submarine force in history;
Whereas from the loss of the U.S.S. Thresher, there arose in our Nation's 
        universities the ocean engineering curricula that enables America's 
        preeminence in submarine warfare; and
Whereas the ``last full measure of devotion'' shown by the crew of the U.S.S. 
        Thresher characterizes the sacrifice of all submariners, past and 
        present, military and civilian, in the service of this Nation: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) remembers with profound sorrow the loss of the U.S.S. 
        Thresher and her gallant crew of sailors and civilians on April 
        10, 1963;
            (2) expresses its deepest gratitude to all submariners on 
        ``eternal patrol'', forever bound together by their dedicated 
        and honorable service to the United States of America;
            (3) recognizes with appreciation and respect the commitment 
        and sacrifices made by the Naval Submarine Service for the past 
        100 years in providing for the common defense of the United 
        States; and
            (4) offers its admiration and gratitude for the workers of 
        the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard whose 200 years of dedicated 
        service to the United States Navy has contributed directly to 
        the greatness and freedom of the United States.

SEC. 2. TRANSMISSION OF RESOLUTION.

    The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit this resolution to the 
Chief of Naval Operations and to the Commanding Officer of the 
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard who shall accept this resolution on behalf of 
the families and shipmates of the crew of the U.S.S. Thresher.
                                 <all>
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