HR0200 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0200 LRB099 11153 GRL 31631 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to applaud the commissioning of the United States Navy's newest nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Illinois, and congratulate Commander Jesse Porter and his crewmembers on their appointment to the ship; and

WHEREAS, The USS Illinois (SSN-786), the 13th vessel of the Virginia Class, will be the first vessel in the United States Navy's fleet to be christened with the name of our Prairie State since 1897; and

WHEREAS, The USS Illinois is currently under construction in the Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Connecticut; it is scheduled to be fully operational and commissioned by December of 2015; and

WHEREAS, The USS Illinois is 377 feet long, with a 34-foot beam and a 32-foot draft; it is built to sustain dives of more than 800 feet below the surface and will be armed to engage in both near-shore and deep-water missions and operations; and

WHEREAS, The submariner crew of the USS Illinois is led by Commander Jesse Porter, a native of Pocatello, Idaho; Commander Porter began his service in the Navy as an Electrician's Mate and has since then become a most distinguished member of the United States Navy; and

WHEREAS, Commander Porter is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Command and Staff College; he has obtained master's degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies and Engineering Management from the Naval War College and Old Dominion University, respectively; and

WHEREAS, Commander Porter has an extensive list of merits, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various other unit, personal, and campaign awards; and

WHEREAS, On this voyage, Commander Porter will be leading 139 other brave shipmen on the USS Illinois, including the ship's Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Joshua Hoops, the ship's Chief of the Boat, Master Chief David DiPietro, 20 commissioned officers, 18 chief petty officers, and 99 other enlisted submariners; and

WHEREAS, Submariners are required to meet rigorous standards in order to be demonstrably ready to face the grueling task of living life under the sea; these valiant individuals will be working 8-hour shifts, 7 days a week, for deployment periods of 6 to 7 months out at sea; and

WHEREAS, Those aboard the USS Illinois will not only be carrying the name of our State across the vast and open seas, they will be upholding and protecting the American principles that we hold dear here at home; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the commissioning of the USS Illinois, applaud the captain and crew for their honorable appointment to the USS Illinois, and wish them a safe and felicitous journey; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Commander Jesse Porter and the crew of the USS Illinois as an expression of our sincere appreciation for their service.