HONORING USS ALEXANDRIA (SSN-757)

On 2026-06-23, Representative Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-8) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING USS ALEXANDRIA (SSN-757)" in the House.

HONORING USS ALEXANDRIA (SSN-757)

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E604] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING USS ALEXANDRIA (SSN-757) ______ HON. DONALD S. BEYER, JR. of virginia in the house of representatives Tuesday, June 23, 2026 Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished service of the USS Alexandria (SSN-757) as the United States Navy prepares to decommission this remarkable submarine after decades of faithful service to the defense of our Nation. USS Alexandria was commissioned on June 29, 1991, and will have an inactivation ceremony on the 35th anniversary of that date, on June 29, 2026. Submarines are known as the ``silent service,'' but I can tell you that she had 5 deployments in the Western Pacific and 10 deployments in the European Theater. She was deployed on September 11, 2001, and stood ready to act if needed, on scene but unseen. During her 35-year lifespan, her crew executed over 30 special operations vital to our national security. They were underway on nuclear power for over one million miles. She participated in joint training exercises with other nations, including testing operability and tactics in Arctic waters and surfacing through the ice. She made poll visits around the world as an ambassador and to communicate our Navy's presence, assurance of freedom of navigation, and dedication to preserving peace. Her annual unclassified operations reports are on file at the Navy's History and Heritage Command. As the USS Alexandria concludes her active service, we pay tribute not only to the submarine itself, but also to the thousands of sailors, officers, civilian mariners, shipbuilders, maintenance workers, and military families whose hard work and sacrifices made her missions possible. The decommissioning of the USS Alexandria marks the end of a proud chapter in naval history. While her service at sea may be ending, her legacy will endure through the men and women who served aboard and supported her. They embody the enduring values of duty, honor, and country. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary service of the USS Alexandria (SSN-757) and in expressing our gratitude to all who contributed to her distinguished record of service to the United States of America. ____________________