IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 720 
Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Rock Island Arsenal and the men 
and women who currently and have previously worked on Arsenal Island. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 29, 2012 
Mr. LOEBSACK (for himself and Mr. SCHILLING) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Rock Island Arse-
nal and the men and women who currently and have 
previously worked on Arsenal Island. 
Whereas the island on which Rock Island Arsenal is located 
was first identified as a Federal military reservation by 
an Act of Congress in 1809; 
Whereas in 1852, Quartermaster-General Thomas Jesup 
wrote to Secretary of War Charles M. Conrad that the 
site of Fort Armstrong, Rock Island, was one of the most 
valuable in our western country for an armory; 
Whereas in 1861— 
(1) leading citizens of Davenport, Iowa; Rock Island, 
Illinois; and Moline, Illinois, presented the Congress with 
a pamphlet arguing for placement of an arsenal and ar-
mory on the island; and 
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(2) the Iowa Legislature urged the Congress to es-
tablish an arsenal on the island; 
Whereas a national arsenal was first established on the island 
on July 11, 1862, under an Act signed into law by Presi-
dent Abraham Lincoln; 
Whereas the Chief of Ordnance ordered Rock Island Arsenal 
to begin manufacturing infantry and cavalry equipment 
on July 19, 1875; 
Whereas, on March 10, 1899, the Congress passed an Act es-
tablishing a small arms manufacturing center at Rock Is-
land Arsenal; 
Whereas, on March 22, 1903, Rock Island Arsenal workers 
formed Local 81 of the International Association of Ma-
chinists and are today represented by the American Fed-
eration of Government Employees; 
Whereas in 1923, Rock Island Arsenal became one of the 
first locations in the United States to develop an effective 
method of welding aluminum; 
Whereas in 1931, Rock Island Arsenal constructed the first 
half-track combat vehicle based on a General Motors 
truck; 
Whereas Rock Island Arsenal manufactured the prototype for 
the lightweight 105mm Howitzer in 1961; 
Whereas in 1969, Rock Island Arsenal was placed on the Na-
tional Register of Historic Places; 
Whereas since 2004, the Joint Manufacturing and Tech-
nology Center has fielded over 45,000 add-on-armor kits 
for 6 different platforms and over 15 variants to support 
deployed servicemembers; 
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Whereas, on June 16, 2008, Rock Island Arsenal completed 
the 1,000th Forward Repair System; 
Whereas today Rock Island Arsenal is home to more than 70 
tenants representing diverse areas within the United 
States Army, the Department of Defense, the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security, and the private sector; 
Whereas today, Rock Island Arsenal is— 
(1) the Nation’s largest Government-owned and Gov-
ernment-operated arsenal; 
(2) the United States Army’s only remaining found-
ry; 
(3) the only multi-purpose and vertically integrated 
metal manufacturer in the Department of Defense; and 
(4) home to the United States Army’s only titanium 
furnace; 
Whereas over its 150 years of service as an arsenal, the Rock 
Island Arsenal has supported United States military per-
sonnel around the world; 
Whereas, throughout its history, the men and women em-
ployed at Rock Island Arsenal have demonstrated tre-
mendous dedication to our men and women in uniform by 
producing 
the 
equipment 
our 
Nation’s 
deployed 
servicemembers require to safely carry out their mission; 
Whereas over the 150 years since its establishment, the Rock 
Island Arsenal has substantially impacted the economy, 
growth, culture, and vibrancy of the Quad Cities; 
Whereas the bi-state support in Iowa and Illinois for Rock Is-
land Arsenal demonstrated since before its founding con-
tinues today; 
Whereas the Rock Island Arsenal continues to provide critical 
Government-owned, Government-operated manufacturing 
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capabilities for the United States Army and Department 
of Defense; 
Whereas the Rock Island Arsenal continues to be a center-
piece of the Quad Cities economy by— 
(1) boosting job creation and economic development 
throughout the bi-state region in Iowa and Illinois; and 
(2) supporting and enhancing advanced manufac-
turing capabilities in the region through public-private 
partnerships; and 
Whereas the manufacturing capabilities and experienced 
workforce at Rock Island Arsenal will continue to be crit-
ical to our national defense and readiness of the United 
States Army to respond to a national security emergency: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the 150th anniversary of the 
Rock Island Arsenal; 
(2) honors the critical role Rock Island Arsenal 
and its workforce have played in our national de-
fense and in equipping our men and women in uni-
form throughout its 150-year history; 
(3) recognizes the ongoing importance of main-
taining and enhancing the Government-owned and 
Government-operated 
manufacturing 
capabilities 
provided by Rock Island Arsenal to the United 
States Army and to our national defense; 
(4) appreciates the active role Rock Island Ar-
senal has played in job creation, economic develop-
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ment, and support of advanced manufacturing capa-
bilities in the Quad Cities and in the region through-
out its history; and 
(5) encourages the people of the United States 
to commemorate and honor the role and contribution 
of Rock Island Arsenal to our national defense and 
to our men and women in uniform on the occasion 
of its 150th anniversary. 
Æ 
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