Senate Concurrent Resolution 624

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING INGALLS SHIPBUILDING ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY AS A LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY.

WHEREAS, Ingalls Shipbuilding marks its 75th Anniversary of building ships in Jackson County this year; and

WHEREAS, Ingalls Shipbuilding is the largest private employer in Mississippi. About 10,000 Ingalls workers build surface combatants, amphibious assault, Coast Guard cutters and transport ships, on 800 acres in Pascagoula; and

WHEREAS, over the years, workers have produced and made repairs to countless ships and the company remains a pioneer in the production of warships for the United States Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, starting in 1938 as Ingalls Iron Works, the yard was purchased by Litton Industries in 1961 and expanded into what was called "The Shipyard of the Future." Northrop Grumman purchased Litton in 2001 and 10 years later the Pascagoula and Newport News shipyards were spun off as Huntington Ingalls Industries, a publicly traded company headed by President and CEO Mike Petters. Irwin F. Edenzon is President of Ingalls Shipbuilding; and

WHEREAS, in 1938, the Ingalls Iron Works Company of Birmingham, Alabama, was searching for a site on which to operate a new shipyard — one that could compete for new cargo and passenger ship contracts from the United States Maritime Commission. The company found what it needed in Pascagoula — a 160-acre tract on the east bank of the Pascagoula River, with a deep water channel, rail access and room to grow. Ingalls' first ship, the SS Exchequer, was also the world's first all-welded steel hull ship. It was a fitting start for a shipyard that is today known as America's Shipyard. Throughout its existence, Ingalls Shipbuilding has provided the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard and other customers with the most reliable, high-quality ships in the world. The men and women who build ships at Ingalls continue that legacy of excellence; and

WHEREAS, Huntington Ingalls Industries employs 37,000 in Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia and California, primarily at Ingalls Shipbuilding and Newport News Shipbuilding; and

WHEREAS, in Gulfport, about 500 employees work on composite components at the 120-acre facility. The annual revenue of all Ingalls operations is about $3 Billion. In Mississippi, Ingalls' weekly payroll is $15 Million, of which $11 Million goes to Mississippians; and

WHEREAS, 2013 milestones include:

· In the last 3 years Ingalls has spent $405 Million with suppliers based in Mississippi.

· Over the past 3 years Ingalls has paid over $57 Million in Mississippi taxes, including property taxes and sales taxes.

· On the philanthropy side, Ingalls donated nearly $376,000 to several Mississippi organizations in 2012.

· Huntington Ingalls Industries is known for building more ships in more classes of ships than any other U.S. shipbuilder.

· Four different classes of ships and 10 ships in production, including Avondale in Louisiana and in Gulfport.

· Ingalls Shipbuilding builds Aegis destroyers, the most advanced surface combatants in the world. Destroyers are considered the backbone of the Navy surface fleet and Ingalls is one of only two builders. Twenty-eight have been delivered and workers are constructing two more.

· Ingalls is the only builder of the deckhouse for the Zumwalt class destroyer, the Navy's next generation destroyer that is built to battle close to shore, in the air and under water.

· Ingalls is building the entire San Antonio class of amphibious assault force ships that will transport and land Marines and their equipment. Eight ships have been delivered and three are under construction.

· Workers are building a new class of multipurpose amphibious assault ships, the America class, for the Navy. The first ship, the America, was christened last October and work on a second ship Tripoli has begun.

· Ingalls has delivered three National Security Cutters to the Coast Guard and has two more under construction.

· The advanced cutters are considered the flagship and centerpiece of the Coast Guard's updated fleet.

· The delivery of the America amphibious assault ship and the October christening of the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton; and

WHEREAS, the new Maritime Training Academy, to be named for former Governor Haley Barbour, will open in the fall to train workers in shipyard skills and crafts. Ingalls also awards grants to improve science and technology studies in schools in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana; and it is with great pride that we join the business community in the State of Mississippi in marking this landmark event:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize Ingalls Shipbuilding on the occasion of its 75th Anniversary as a leader in the national and international shipbuilding industry and extend our best wishes to this excellent corporate citizen on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Irwin F. Edenzon, President of Ingalls Shipbuilding, forwarded to the Mississippi Development Authority, the Jackson County Board of Supervisors and the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of Pascagoula and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.