,,iii  #aagth ,,congress  #b;d ,session 
,s4 ,,res4 #ecc  ,,in ,,the ,,senate    
,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states  ,march #c1
 #bjbb,mr4 ,kaine 7for himself and ,mr4 
,warner7 submitted the following        
resolution2 which was referred to the   
,committee on ,armed ,services          
,,resolution  ,celebrating the          
centennial of ,navy aircraft carriers4  
,whereas #ajj years ago1 on ,march #bj1 
#aibb1 following a #b-year conversion at
 ,norfolk ,naval ,shipyard1 the former  
,,uss ,jupiter 7,collier #c7 was        
recommissioned as ,,uss ,langley        
7,,cv-#a71 the first aircraft carrier of
 the ,navy2 ,whereas ,,uss ,langley     
began as an experimental platform1      
laying the foundation for the future    
shipboard operations of aircraft2       
,whereas1 in fleet exercises beginning  
in #aibd1 the ,,uss ,langley1           
appropriately nicknamed the ,covered    
,wagon1 demonstrated the potential of   
the aircraft carrier as an invaluable   
weapons system that would transform how 

the ,navy fought at sea2 ,whereas1 for  
the past #ajj years1 aircraft carriers  
have been the preeminent power          
projection platform for the ,navy and   
have furthered ,united ,states interest 
in times of war and peace2 ,whereas1    
from the great naval battles in the     
,pacific ,ocean during ,world ,war ,,ii 
to strike and close air support missions
 in the battlegrounds of the ,korean    
,peninsula and ,vietnam1 the execution  
of joint force operations over the sands
 of the ,middle ,east1 and present-day  
deterrence in numerous locations around 
the world1 aircraft carriers have proven
 time and again that they invaluable in 
supporting the strategic goals of the   
,united ,states2 ,whereas1 with an      
unequaled ability to provide warfighting
 capabilities across the full spectrum  
of conflict and to adapt in the face of 
ever-changing threats1 aircraft carriers
 and their embarked air wings and       
associated strike groups are the        
foundation of ,united ,states maritime  

strategy2 ,whereas aircraft carriers    
enable the ,armed ,forces to carry out  
operations from international waters1   
often obviating the need to obtain      
flyover and land-based rights from other
 countries2 ,whereas ,nimitz and ,gerald
 ,r4 ,ford-class aircraft carriers are  
modern1 mobile military bases each      
complete with an airfield1 a hospital1  
and a hardened communications system    
from which the ,united ,states can      
strike at enemies1 wherever and whenever
 it chooses2 ,whereas there are more    
than #b1dej companies in #dh ,states and
 more than #cfd congressional districts 
and more than #ac1ajj individuals1 who  
proudly contribute to the construction  
and maintenance of these complex and    
technologically advanced ships2 and     
,whereas countless members of the ,armed
 ,forces have served the ,united ,states
 aboard aircraft carriers in war1 peace1
 and times of crisis3 ,now1 therefore1  
be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7          
recognizes that aircraft carriers       

continue to be a cornerstone of the     
,navy and play a vital role in the      
defense of the ,united ,states2  7#b7   
acknowledges that1 in a time of great   
power competition that the world has not
 seen for over #cj years1 aircraft      
carriers will continue to be an         
absolutely vital strategic platform that
 the ,united ,states can wield to ensure
 security and stability throughout the  
world1 now and well into the future2    
7#c7 in this #ajjth year since ,,uss    
,langley 7,,cv-#a7 was commissioned at  
,norfolk ,naval ,shipyard1 recognizes   
the role aircraft carriers have played  
in securing peace for the ,united       
,states and the continuing role aircraft
 carriers will play in maintaining peace
 and security for the ,united ,states2  
and  7#d7 celebrates the centennial of  
,navy aircraft carriers4