NEW SUBMARINE WILL BE NAMED AFTER NORTH DAKOTA

Monday, July 14, 2008

CONTACT: Justin Kitsch
or  Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- Members of the USS North Dakota Committee announced Monday that the Navy will name a new nuclear submarine after North Dakota.

Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad, Congressman Earl Pomeroy and Governor John Hoeven said the Navy’s decision means that, for the first time since 1923, a USS North Dakota will soon be part of the nation’s fleet.

“This is great news for North Dakota. It’s a testament to the respect the Navy has for our state that the next Virginia-class submarine will be the USS North Dakota,” Senator Dorgan said. “North Dakota may be landlocked, but our state has contributed a great deal to the U.S. Navy. This ship will be a fitting tribute that should be a source of pride for all of our veterans.”

“This is a proud day for all North Dakotans,” Senator Conrad said. "Throughout our nation's history, North Dakota has enjoyed a well-earned reputation for producing some of our nation's bravest servicemen and women. The U.S.S North Dakota is a lasting and well-deserved tribute to all of our state's veterans, as well as those serving in uniform today."

“North Dakota may not have a sea coast, but that hasn’t stopped North Dakotans from proudly serving in the U.S. Navy. Having a submarine bear our state’s name will be a fitting tribute to all North Dakotans who serve in the U.S. military,” Congressman Pomeroy said. “I commend Senator Dorgan for leading the charge to again have a USS North Dakota sail the high seas.”

“There hasn’t been a ship named after the State of North Dakota in 85 years,” Hoeven said. “That’s why together we put on a full court press to get the Navy to name a submarine after our state, and we were successful. I think the more than 1,000 pictures colored by our young people which we presented to Donald Winter, Secretary of the Navy, impressed him with the grassroots effort our state made to name a submarine USS North Dakota.”

Senator Dorgan invited Senator Conrad, Congressman Pomeroy, Governor Hoeven, and a group of prominent North Dakotans earlier this year to take part in the effort to convince the Navy Secretary to designate a new USS North Dakota. The result was the formation of the USS North Dakota Committee. Dorgan asked former Secretary of State Warren Christopher, a native of Scranton, N.D., to act as honorary chair of the committee.

Senators Dorgan and Conrad, Congressman Pomeroy and Governor Hoeven led a delegation last month in a meeting with Navy Secretary Donald Winter at the Pentagon. The group outlined a plan for how North Dakota will support the ship and its crew. They said that after so many decades, the time is right for the Navy to name a new ship after North Dakota.

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