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The submarine and its 129-member crew were lost at sea on April 10, 1963

Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) and Chellie Pingree (ME-01) introduced H.Res. 145, a resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the sinking of U.S.S. Thresher.

"We must honor the legacy of those who lost their lives on the U.S.S. Thresher, and continue to recognize the excellent work the men and women of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard do to help keep our nation safe." Shea-Porter said.

"The men on the Thresher gave their lives in the service of our country and today we honor their memory and promise never to forget the sacrifice they made," Pingree said.

On April 10, 1963, the U.S.S. Thresher sank roughly 200 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. All 129 crew members perished aboard the nuclear submarine. In response to the loss of U.S.S. Thresher, the Navy instituted new regulations to ensure the health of submariners and the safety of submarines. Those regulations led to the establishment of the Submarine Safety and Quality Assurance program (SUBSAFE). Since the establishment of SUBSAFE, no SUBSAFE-certified submarine has been lost at sea, which is a legacy owed to the brave individuals who perished aboard U.S.S. Thresher.

The resolution states in-part that the House of Representatives "recognizes the 50th anniversary of the sinking of U.S.S. Thresher; remembers with profound sorrow the loss of U.S.S. Thresher and her gallant crew of sailors and civilians on April 10, 1963; and expresses its deepest gratitude to all submariners on 'eternal patrol', who are forever bound together by dedicated and honorable service to the United States of America."

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the sinking of U.S.S.

Thresher (SSN 593).

Whereas U.S.S. Thresher was first launched at Portsmouth

Naval Shipyard on July 9, 1960;

Whereas U.S.S. Thresher departed Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

for her final voyage on April 9, 1963, with a crew

of 16 officers, 96 sailors, and 17 civilians;

Whereas the mix of that crew reflects the unity of the naval

submarine service, military and civilian, in the protection

of the United States;

Whereas at approximately 7:47 a.m. on April 10, 1963, while

in communication with the surface ship U.S.S. Skylark,

and approximately 220 miles off the coast of New England,

U.S.S. Thresher began her final descent;

Whereas U.S.S. Thresher was declared lost with all hands on

April 10, 1963;

Whereas in response to the loss of U.S.S. Thresher, the

United States Navy instituted new regulations to ensure

the health of the submariners and the safety of the submarines

of the United States;

Whereas those regulations led to the establishment of the

Submarine Safety and Quality Assurance program

(SUBSAFE), now 1 of the most comprehensive military

safety programs in the world;

Whereas SUBSAFE has kept the submariners of the United

States safe at sea ever since as the strongest, safest submarine

force in history;

Whereas, since the establishment of SUBSAFE, no

SUBSAFE-certified submarine has been lost at sea,

which is a legacy owed to the brave individuals who perished

aboard U.S.S. Thresher;

Whereas from the loss of U.S.S. Thresher, there arose in the

institutions of higher education in the United States the

ocean engineering curricula that enables the preeminence

of the United States in submarine warfare; and

Whereas the crew of U.S.S. Thresher demonstrated the ''last

full measure of devotion'' in service to the United States,

and this devotion characterizes the sacrifices of all submariners,

past and present: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) recognizes the 50th anniversary of the sinking of U.S.S. Thresher;

(2) remembers with profound sorrow the loss of

U.S.S. Thresher and her gallant crew of sailors and

civilians on April 10, 1963; and

(3) expresses its deepest gratitude to all submariners on ''eternal patrol'',

who are forever bound together by dedicated and honorable service to the

United States of America.