Bill Text: VA SJR272 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Designating August 13, 2019, and each succeeding year, as Shipbuilders Day in Virginia.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-21 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ272ER) [SJR272 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-SJR272-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, shipbuilding plays a vital role in the national security and economic vitality of the United States, and Virginia maintains its proud maritime heritage as a national leader in the shipbuilding industry; and
WHEREAS, nationwide, the shipbuilding industry supports more than 400,000 jobs and generates $23.9 billion in income and $36 billion worth of goods and services; and
WHEREAS, the shipbuilding industry accounts for a tremendous $5.5 billion economic impact in Virginia alone, with an estimated one in every 90 jobs in the Commonwealth related directly or indirectly to shipbuilding; and
WHEREAS, shipbuilders represent a diverse, dedicated, and highly skilled workforce and have put their expertise to use building and maintaining some of the most complex and advanced ships in the world; and
WHEREAS, Newport News is home to the headquarters of Huntington Ingalls Industries, the largest military shipbuilder in the United States, and its 550-acre shipyard, Newport News Shipbuilding; and
WHEREAS, founded as the Chesapeake Drydock and Construction Company in 1886, Newport News Shipbuilding is the largest industrial employer in the Commonwealth, employing approximately 23,000 people, many of whom are third-generation or fourth-generation shipbuilders; and
WHEREAS, the first ship built entirely at Newport News Shipbuilding, the tugboat Dorothy, was delivered in 1891 and demonstrated the young company's potential for innovation and excellence; the tugboat stayed in service until 1964 and was eventually returned to the shipyard, where it was put on display; and
WHEREAS, over the course of more than a century since Dorothy steamed away along the James River, Newport News Shipbuilding has produced more than 800 military and commercial vessels and has become the sole designer, builder, and refueler for United States Navy aircraft carriers and one of only two builders of Navy submarines; and
WHEREAS, with the United States Navy's plans to increase its fleet to 355 ships, Newport News Shipbuilding will continue to make significant contributions to the region and the nation; and
WHEREAS, Collis P. Huntington, the visionary founder of Newport News Shipbuilding, died on August 13, 1900; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly designate August 13, in 2019 and in each succeeding year, as Shipbuilders Day in Virginia; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to Newport News Shipbuilding so that members of the organization may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it
RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate post the designation of this day on the General Assembly's website.
