[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2] [House] [Pages 2209-2210] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank 370 Members of the House of Representatives for joining me in an effort to rename the Department of Navy to be the Navy and Marine Corps. I would also like to share with the House that last Thursday was a very exciting day for this effort, the reason being that Mike Blum, a Marine Corps League executive director, was the MC at a news conference that was attended. One of the speakers was United States Marine General Tony Zinni. Senator Pat Roberts, from the Senate, introduced an identical bill to the bill H.R. 24, which 370 Members cosponsored. Also in attendance to speak was General Al Gray, a former commandant of the United States Marine Corps. There was a very impressive young man from Texas, Sergeant Eddie Wright, a marine veteran and Bronze Star recipient, who lost both hands in combat in Iraq in 2004. Despite his injuries, he became a Marine Corps hand-to-hand combat instructor. He later retired and is now a defense contractor. Sergeant Wright explained the importance of teamwork between the Navy and Marine Corps because he said at the news conference, if he had not had the Navy corpsman there, he would not have been living today to appear at the news conference, calling for this relationship to be publicly respected--the Navy and Marine Corps. There also was a father, Dick Linn, whose son, Karl, was killed in Iraq in 2005. Tracy Della Vecchia, the MarineParents.com founder and executive director, was there. Her Web site has over 130,000-plus members. It provides support for parents of marines. She also spoke on behalf of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this news conference was to announce the national spokesman. The national spokesman was also in attendance, and he spoke as well--Lee Ermey, known as the ``Gunny,'' a Golden Globe- nominated actor and marine veteran. Ermey is host of the History Channel's ``Mail Call'' and ``Lock N' Load with R. Lee Ermey.'' He is a star of major films, including ``Full Metal Jacket,'' ``Dead Man Walking,'' and ``Toy Story.'' Lee Ermey has become the national spokesman, and he intends to help us try to convince the Senate to accept three words: ``and Marine Corps.'' Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record letters from Ike Skelton, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and also from Ranking Member Buck McKeon. House Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC, January 26, 2010. Hon. Walter Jones, House of Representatives, 2333 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC. Dear Walter: I wanted to take this opportunity to commend you on your continuing campaign to redesignate the Department of the Navy as the ``Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.'' Since 2001, you have worked tirelessly to bring about this change, and I am proud that, as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I have included it in the Chairman's mark of the National Defense Authorization Acts of Fiscal Years 2008, 2009 and 2010. I regret, however, that the Senate has not been as receptive to your effort, and so far, we have been unable to carry this provision into a Conference Report, and then into law. Walter, your dedication to this matter has been steadfast, and I commend your sincere desire to recognize the men and women of the United States Marine Corps in this way. Hopefully, 2010 will be different. With over 360 co-sponsors of your bill H.R. 24, this effort has real momentum behind it, and I will be pleased to support its consideration on the House Floor and, of course, again carry it as part of the Chairman's mark of the national defense authorization bill for Fiscal Year 2011. Very truly yours, Ike Skelton, Chairman. ____ House Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC, February 3, 2010. Hon. Walter B. Jones, 2333 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Congressman Jones: It is with great pleasure that I join you and Chairman Ike Skelton in the effort to redesignate the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. For the past eight years, I have worked with you to see this become a reality. Now is the time to move forward. Through blood and sacrifice, the United States Marine Corps deserves such recognition and I hope that this year it becomes a reality. As you are aware, the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has carried this language since 2001. However, the Senate has yet to agree to our position in order for this change to take effect. Today, more than 360 members of the House have agreed with us that this change is necessary to reflect the true role of the Marine Corps within the Department of Defense, as a coequal with the Navy. I look forward to pushing this effort with you when it reaches the House Floor in the spring as a standalone measure and will continue to support the language in the FY11 NDAA. Thank you for your steadfast dedication to this effort. Sincerely, Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, Ranking Member. In the letters from the chairman and ranking member, they state that they will bring this bill to the floor sometime in April as a suspension bill, will pass it on the floor, and will send it to the Senate. Then it will be up to the Senate to do what they will. Hopefully, they will understand what Senator Roberts said. All we are asking for are three words: ``and Marine Corps.'' Mr. Speaker, before I close, Dick Linn, who lost his son in Iraq in 2005, received condolence letters. He brought this up. I happen to have these three posters of fallen heroes from Camp Lejeune. They are marines who have died. Mr. Linn said that he was so disappointed and that, when he received these condolence letters, he was so proud of his son, who was a marine. I'll show you what he received. Mr. Speaker, you can see on this letter--it's a blowup--the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C., Navy flag. Nothing. There is absolutely nothing about the Marine Corps. Yet, the young man who died and many others who have died who were also marines received the same kind of letter, and there was nothing about the Marine Corps except in the body of the letter. If this should become law--and I hope that the Senate will see the need for this, the need to recognize the Marine Corps and to say, Thank you, Marine Corps. You are one part of the fighting team, the Navy and Marine Corps. This is what it would have said: The Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., with the Navy flag and the Marine flag. That's what it should be. I want to say before I close, Mr. Speaker, that the Navy and Marine Corps are one fighting team. They should be represented in name as one fighting team, Navy and Marine Corps. Mr. Speaker, I want to close, but as I always do close with my heart aching for all who have given their lives for this country in Afghanistan and in Iraq, I ask God to please bless our men and women in uniform and for God to please bless their families. God, please, in your loving arms, hold the families who have given a child dying for freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr. Speaker, I ask God to please bless this House and Senate that we will do what is right in the eyes of God. I ask God to please bless the President. Give him wisdom and strength to do what is right for this country. [[Page 2210]] Three times, I will ask God: God, please, God, please, God, please, continue to bless America. ____________________