Bill Text: IL HR0200 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Applauds the commissioning of the United States Navy's newest nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Illinois, and congratulates Commander Jesse Porter and his crewmembers on their appointment to the ship.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)

Status: (Passed) 2015-02-26 - Resolution Adopted [HR0200 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HR0200-Introduced.html

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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

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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

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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.