IV 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 87 

Expressing the sense of Congress that an appropriate site at the former 

Navy Dive School at the Washington Navy Yard should be provided 

for a memorial to honor the members of the Armed Forces who have 

served as divers and whose service in defense of the United States 

has been carried out beneath the waters of the world. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 10, 2011 

Mr. BILIRAKIS submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined 

by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 

within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress that an appropriate site 

at the former Navy Dive School at the Washington Navy 

Yard should be provided for a memorial to honor the 

members of the Armed Forces who have served as divers 

and whose service in defense of the United States has 

been carried out beneath the waters of the world. 

Whereas United States Navy divers have received seven Medals of Honor for multiple acts of heroism dating back to 

1915; 

Whereas United States Navy divers received the only peacetime Medals of Honor ever awarded; 


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•HCON 87 IH 

Whereas United States Navy divers significantly contributed 

to the salvage and restoration of Pearl Harbor after the 

Japanese attack in 1941; 

Whereas United States Navy divers addressed critical beach 

and harbor clearances and recoveries in all United States 

wars since WWI; 

Whereas United States Navy divers significantly contributed 

to the winning of the Cold War by diving on Soviet communications cables at extreme depths; 

Whereas United States Navy divers made critical recoveries 

of Space Shuttles Challenger and Columbia; 

Whereas United States Army divers were instrumental in the 

clearance of underwater munitions at ports and harbors 

in WWII; 

Whereas United States Army divers were crucial to maintenance and repair of vessels and aircraft recovery during 

the Vietnam War; 

Whereas United States Army divers salvaged vessels during 

the first Gulf War, a Soviet vessel in Somalia, and numerous vessels during the humanitarian operation in 

Haiti; 

Whereas United States Army divers deployed to the Persian 

Gulf region in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; 

Whereas United States Army divers have performed humanitarian relief efforts to clear international ports and harbors after natural disasters; 

Whereas United States Army divers have performed hundreds 

of missions for United States Army Corps of Engineers 

to maintain the dams, locks and waterways of the United 

States; 


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•HCON 87 IH 

Whereas United States Army divers have performed lifesaving recompression treatments on injured military and 

civilian personnel; 

Whereas United States Marine Corps divers were essential to 

the development of the buoyant ascent technique which 

allows forces to deploy from submarines at depth and return to a submerged submarine allowing for the completion of a range of covert missions; 

Whereas United States Marine Corps divers were essential to 

the testing and development of the Fulton Skyhook, intended for the sophisticated snatch pickup of troops from 

remote areas; 

Whereas United States Air Force divers, specifically 

Pararescuemen and Combat Controllers, have conducted 

crucial Department of Defense’s missions in support of 

NASA missions and efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan; 

Whereas United States Coast Guard divers undertook clandestine infiltration missions in the European and Pacific 

Theaters of WWII; 

Whereas United States Coast Guard divers assisted in the recoveries of Air Florida flight 90, the Space Shuttle Challenger, and numerous other aircraft and vehicles; 

Whereas United States Coast Guard divers provided critical 

underwater ship husbandry support during the historic 

1957 exploration of the Northwest Passage; 

Whereas United States Coast Guard divers have enhanced 

scientific achievements through collection of marine samples in the Arctic and Antarctic regions; 

Whereas United States Coast Guard divers have ensured the 

safety of shipping in the Pacific Islands; and 


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Whereas United States Coast Guard divers have established 

a security posture throughout the homeland during ports, 

waterways, and coastal security inspections following the 

terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the Sec3 retary of the Navy should provide an appropriate site at 

4 the former Navy Dive School at the Washington Navy 

5 Yard for a memorial, to be paid for with private funds, 

6 to honor the members of the Armed Forces who have 

7 served as divers and whose service in defense of the United 

8 States has been carried out beneath the waters of the 

9 world, so long as the Secretary of the Navy has exclusive 

10 authority to approve the design and site of the memorial. 

Æ 


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