•HRES 493 IH 
installation to fulfil the Nation’s need for a naval facility 
on the Atlantic coast; 
Whereas, on April 11, 1868, the Navy accepted the deed of 
gift of land from Connecticut to establish a naval yard 
and storage depot along the eastern shore of the Thames 
River in Groton, Connecticut; 
Whereas between 1868 and 1912, the New London Navy 
Yard supported a diverse range of missions, including 
berthing inactive Civil War era ironclad warships and 
serving as a coaling station for refueling naval ships trav-
eling in New England waters; 
Whereas Congress rejected the Navy’s proposal to close New 
London Navy Yard in 1912, following an impassioned ef-
fort by Congressman Edwin W. Higgins, who stated that 
this ‘‘action proposed is not only unjust but unreasonable 
and unsound as a military proposition’’; 
Whereas the outbreak of World War I and the enemy use of 
submarines to sink allied military and civilian ships in 
the Atlantic sparked a new focus on developing sub-
marine capabilities in the United States; 
Whereas October 18, 1915, marked the arrival at the New 
London Navy Yard of the submarines G–1, G–2, and G– 
4 under the care of the tender USS OZARK, soon fol-
lowed by the arrival of submarines E–1, D–1, and D–3 
under the care of the tender USS TONOPAH, and on 
November 1, 1915, the arrival of the first ship built as 
a submarine tender, the USS FULTON (AS–1); 
Whereas, on June 21, 1916, Commander Yeates Stirling as-
sumed the command of the newly designated Naval Sub-
marine Base New London, the New London Submarine 
Flotilla, and the Submarine School; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:42 Oct 27, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR493.IH
HR493
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 493 IH 
Whereas in the 100 years since the arrival of the first sub-
marines to the base, Naval Submarine Base New London 
has grown to occupy more than 680 acres along the east 
side of the Thames River, with more than 160 major fa-
cilities, 15 nuclear submarines, and more than 70 tenant 
commands and activities, including the Submarine Learn-
ing Center, Naval Submarine School, the Naval Sub-
marine Medical Research Laboratory, the Naval Under-
sea Medical Institute, and the newly established Under-
sea Warfare Development Center; 
Whereas in addition to being the site of the first submarine 
base in the United States, Connecticut was home to the 
foremost submarine manufacturers of the time, the Lake 
Torpedo Boat Company in Bridgeport and the Electric 
Boat Company in Groton, which later became General 
Dynamics Electric Boat; 
Whereas General Dynamics Electric Boat, its talented work-
force, and its Connecticut-based and nationwide network 
of suppliers have delivered more than 200 submarines 
from its current location in Groton, Connecticut, includ-
ing the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS NAU-
TILUS (SSN 571), and nearly half of the nuclear sub-
marines ever built by the United States; 
Whereas the Submarine Force Library and Museum, located 
adjacent to Naval Submarine Base New London in Grot-
on, Connecticut, is the only submarine museum operated 
by the United States Navy and today serves as the pri-
mary repository for artifacts, documents, and photo-
graphs relating to the bold and courageous history of the 
Submarine Force and highlights as its core exhibit the 
historic ship NAUTILUS following her retirement from 
service; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:42 Oct 27, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR493.IH
HR493
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 493 IH 
Whereas reflecting the close ties between Connecticut and the 
Navy that began with the gift of land that established the 
base, the State of Connecticut has set aside $40 million 
in funding for critical infrastructure investments to sup-
port the mission of the base, including construction of a 
new dive locker building, expansion of the Submarine 
Learning Center, and modernization of energy infrastruc-
ture; 
Whereas, on September 29, 2015, Connecticut Governor 
Dannel Malloy designated October 2015 through October 
2016 as Connecticut’s Submarine Century, a year-long 
observance that celebrates 100 years of submarine activ-
ity in Connecticut, including the Town of Groton’s dis-
tinction as the Submarine Capital of the World, to coin-
cide with the centennial anniversary of the establishment 
of Naval Submarine Base New London and the Naval 
Submarine School; 
Whereas Naval Submarine Base New London still proudly 
proclaims its motto of ‘‘The First and Finest’’; and 
Whereas Congressman Higgins’ statement before Congress in 
1912 that ‘‘Connecticut stands ready, as she always has, 
to bear her part of the burdens of the national defense’’ 
remains true today: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) commends the longstanding dedication and 
contribution to the Navy and submarine force by the 
people of Connecticut, both through the initial deed 
of gift that established what would become Naval 
Submarine Base New London and through their on-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:42 Oct 27, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR493.IH
HR493
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 493 IH 
going commitment to support the mission of the 
base and the Navy personnel assigned to it; 
(2) honors the submariners who have trained 
and served at Naval Submarine Base New London 
throughout its history in support of the Nation’s se-
curity and undersea superiority; 
(3) recognizes the contribution of the industry 
and workforce of Connecticut in designing, building, 
and sustaining the Navy’s submarine fleet; and 
(4) encourages the recognition of Connecticut’s 
Submarine Century by Congress, the Navy, and the 
American people by honoring the contribution of the 
people of Connecticut to the defense of the United 
States and the important role of the submarine force 
in safeguarding the security of the United States for 
more than a century. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:42 Oct 27, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR493.IH
HR493
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS