House Concurrent Resolution 119

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING INGALLS SHIPBUILDING IN PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI, ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 75TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OPERATION.

WHEREAS, 2013 marks the 75th anniversary of Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, originally established in 1938, and is now part of Huntington Ingalls Industries, which is one of the nation's leading producers of cargo ships, barges and the most advanced ships used by the United States Navy; and

WHEREAS, having earned the designation as "America's Shipyard" over the course of its operational history, Ingalls is the State of Mississippi's largest private employer, with an employee base of approximately 11,000 workers; and

WHEREAS, in 1938, Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation was founded by Robert Ingalls of Birmingham, Alabama, on the east bank of the Pascagoula River in Mississippi, where the Pascagoula River runs into the Gulf of Mexico, the shipyard initially constructed commercial ships including one of the first L African Planet on Liberty Fleet Day on September 27, 1941, before later winning a contract in 1957 to build 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines after engaging in bidding on Navy work in the early l950s; and

WHEREAS, Litton Industries acquired Ingalls in 1961, and in 1968 expanded its facilities to the other side of the river, allowing the company to reach a high point of employment in 1977, with 25,000 workers; and

WHEREAS, having weathered the tumultuous storm damage caused by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, with most of the ships in dock and construction escaping serious harm, the tenacity and resolve of the company's leadership and workforce to continue its pursuit of excellence in shipbuilding even in the midst of the destruction of many buildings, most vehicles and the large overhead cranes, the facility continues to operate today just as efficiently as in years prior; and

WHEREAS, nearly ten years after Litton's acquisition of Northrop Grumman in April 2001, Northrop Grumman spun off its shipbuilding sector on March 31, 2011, into a new corporation, Huntington Ingalls Industries; and

WHEREAS, Ingalls' primary product has been naval ships, although it also produces offshore drilling rigs and cruise ships, and has done naval projects for Egypt, Israel and Venezuela, and attempted to enter the diesel locomotive market in the 1950s, cataloguing an extensive product line, but producing only one example, known as the model 4-S; and

WHEREAS, in the early 1980s Ingalls also manufactured covered hopper railroad cars, producing around 4,000 units, primarily for the lease market via North American Car; and

WHEREAS, during the course of its existence, Ingalls has produced 123 vessels, which include: four classes of submarines, the Barbel, Skipjack, Thresher/Permit and Sturgeon; three classes of destroyers, the Spruance, Kidd and Arleigh Burke; the Ticonderoga class of cruisers; the Legend class of cutters; the San Antonio class of amphibious transport dock; four classes of amphibious assault ships, Iwo Jima, Tarawa, Wasp and America; the Sa'ar 5 class of corvettes; one liberty ship; one victory ship; two cruise ship and ocean liners; and two ship refittings; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to acknowledge the superior distinction of such a reputable establishment as Ingalls Shipbuilding, which has, throughout its existence, provided the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard and other customers with the most reliable, high-quality ships in the world produced by the men and women who build ships at Ingalls who contribute to the continuation of its legacy of excellence:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on the occasion of its 75th year anniversary of operation, extend our most grateful appreciation for its continued presence as a major contributor to the state's economic and workforce development, and convey our sincere wishes for continued success in all of its future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Ingalls Shipbuilding and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.