WHEREAS, The United States Navy was officially created by Congress in April, 1798, and has its earliest roots in General George Washington's Continental Navy, which he formed in 1775 to defend the American colonies from British attack; and

WHEREAS, The United States Navy maintains, trains, and equips combat-ready forces for the purpose of deterring aggression toward the United States and maintaining freedom on the seas; and

WHEREAS, The United States Navy is also responsible for the seaborne support of the other branches of the United States military; and

WHEREAS, The United States Navy has seven active fleets currently in service, with 11 aircraft carriers, 92 cruisers and destroyers, and 59 small-surface combatants and combat logistics ships; and

WHEREAS, The United States Navy's submarine fleet consists of 50 fast-attack submarines, 14 ballistic-missile submarines, and four cruise-missile submarines, all working in close collaboration with navies of American allies; and

WHEREAS, All submariners in the United States Navy have volunteered for their positions and take enormous pride in the level of sacrifice and difficulty of their unique duty and service in seas around the world; and

WHEREAS, Six United States presidents served in the United States Navy in World War II alone before they led our nation, including John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush; and

WHEREAS, The United States Navy maintains a strong presence in Washington state through Naval Base Kitsap, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, and Naval Station Everett; and

WHEREAS, Naval Base Kitsap is the third-largest United States Navy installation in the United States, and is home to a diverse naval force, including all types of submarines, two Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and the Manchester Fuel Depot; and

WHEREAS, A naval station was established in Bremerton, Washington, in 1891, becoming the 179-acre Puget Sound Naval Shipyard after World War II, which has been responsible for construction, modernization, conversion, maintenance, and nuclear refueling of Navy vessels; and

WHEREAS, Washington is home to more than 11,000 Navy service members and generates more than $11 billion in economic activity, provides more than 79,000 military and civilian jobs, and more than $303 million in state and local taxes; and

WHEREAS, Former Governor Dan Evans served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946; and

WHEREAS, Many members and staff of the Washington State Legislature have served in the United States Navy and many Navy veterans have gone on to serve their country in political office around the country; and

WHEREAS, The United States Navy has beaten the United States Army in more than half of the 123 Army-Navy football games and has the longer winning streak of the two teams;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That on behalf of the people of Washington and the more than 64,000 Navy service members and families who live in our communities, the Senate express its unwavering gratitude and appreciation for the United States Navy and the prosperity and protection it has provided to Washington.