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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 488 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 488

Commending and congratulating Commander David W. Alldridge and the crew 
     of the USS Newport News (SSN 750) on the occasion of the 20th 
                anniversary of the ship's commissioning.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2009

 Mr. Wittman submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Commending and congratulating Commander David W. Alldridge and the crew 
     of the USS Newport News (SSN 750) on the occasion of the 20th 
                anniversary of the ship's commissioning.

Whereas June 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the commissioning of the nuclear 
        attack submarine USS Newport News (SSN 750), constructed by the Newport 
        News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in the city of Newport News;
Whereas the submarine USS Newport News is the eighth vessel to bear the name of 
        this proud shipbuilding city;
Whereas three previous ships, including the heavy cruiser USS Newport News (CA 
        148), the most decorated ship from the east coast during the Vietnam 
        campaign, have seen naval service;
Whereas since its commissioning in June 1989, the submarine USS Newport News has 
        steamed more than 500,000 nautical miles in support of the Nation's 
        defense;
Whereas the USS Newport News has provided emergent wartime Tomahawk strike 
        warfare and intelligence support during Operation Desert Storm, and its 
        deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, during Operation Desert Fox, during 
        Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Global War on Terrorism;
Whereas the USS Newport News, which provides the stealth, readiness, endurance, 
        flexibility, and mission capability of the 688 Class nuclear fast attack 
        submarine, has shown the flag during 40 foreign port visits and 4 
        transits of the Panama Canal;
Whereas the USS Newport News has provided services for seven major multinational 
        battle groups during NATO exercises, has conducted an emergent WESTLANT 
        deployment, and has participated in the commemoration of the Allied 
        landings at Normandy, Operation Sharp Guard in the Adriatic Sea, and 
        Operation Southern Watch in the Red Sea;
Whereas the USS Newport News has recorded several ``firsts'' in the submarine 
        force, including first to conduct successful launches of and upgrade of 
        the Tomahawk Cruise Missile during both horizontally and vertically 
        launched live-firing missile tests, first to provide a submarine launch 
        of ADCAP torpedoes employing the most updated operational software, the 
        first operational test launch of a BLK IV Tomahawk missile, first to 
        transit the Suez Canal for emergent tasking, first to be graded 
        ``excellent'' in tactical readiness since the current formal inspection 
        team was formed, and first to deploy with the Advanced Technical 
        Information System, a network computer system located throughout the 
        ship that improves the speed and efficiency of accessing technical 
        information;
Whereas the USS Newport News has been awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal 
        with two bronze stars, two Arctic Service Ribbons, the Sea Service 
        Deployment Ribbon with three bronze stars, the Navy Expeditionary Medal 
        with two bronze stars, a Meritorious Unit Citation, a Navy Unit 
        Citation, and the Sea Service Ribbon with one silver star and one bronze 
        star; and
Whereas the motto of the USS Newport News, Magni Ominus Umbra,   relates the 
        ship's name to the well-established shipbuilding and naval traditions of 
        the City of Newport News and the distinguished careers of the naval 
        ships that have proudly carried this name: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives commends and 
congratulates Commander David W. Alldridge and the crew of the USS 
Newport News (SSN 750) on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 
ship's commissioning.
                                 <all>
```