Norman D. Dicks: “as we consider the FY 2006 Defense Appropriations Act today in the House of Representatives, I would like to bring to my…”

“as we consider the FY 2006 Defense Appropriations Act today in the House of Representatives, I would like to bring to my colleagues' attention the important contributions of the Ready Reserve Fleet of U.S. ships that helps to multiply the dollars we appropriate each year to the Department of Defense. The Military Sealift Command calls upon American shipping companies to assist in the deployment of forces overseas, providing a critical supplement to the military's cargo transportation capability. These arrangements are most essential at times when the defense equipment supply chain extends for 8,000 miles, as it does with our current deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. Clearly we would not have sufficient capability within the Navy to accomplish the enormous task of keeping our troops supplied without the Ready Reserve Fleet. I mention this because I have recently received a copy of a letter from the Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command to a company in my congressional district, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. (TOTE), expressing thanks for the contributions made by one of the firm's ships to Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the letter, General Norton Schwartz commended the officers and crew of TOTE's ``SS Northern Lights'' for making 25 voyages and 49 port calls during its continuous deployment, which lasted longer than any other ship, government-owned or commercial. This is a tremendous accomplishment, Mr.…”