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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The United States Navy christened and launched its |
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newest trimaran-variant Littoral Combat Ship, the USS Kingsville, |
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in Mobile, Alabama, on April 22, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, The ship was named in honor of both the city of |
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Kingsville and Naval Air Station Kingsville, highlighting the |
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cooperative efforts of the two communities in behalf of the nation; |
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its sponsor, Katherine Kline, performed the traditional breaking of |
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a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow at the Austal USA |
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shipyard; she represents the sixth generation of the King Ranch |
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family, descended from steamboat Captain Richard King, who founded |
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the ranch in Kingsville in 1853; nearly nine decades later, the |
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Naval Air Station Kingsville was established, and it has enjoyed a |
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special relationship with the ranch ever since; Ms. Kline's father, |
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Lieutenant Commander Richard Sugden, was a Navy flight surgeon; and |
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WHEREAS, Armed with guns, missiles, and helicopters, the ship |
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is 418 feet long and can reach speeds of over 50 miles per hour; the |
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18th trimaran-variant Littoral Combat Ship, it belongs to a class |
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of fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants; |
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they operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments to address |
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21st-century coastal threats, and they integrate with joint, |
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combined, manned, and unmanned teams to support forward presence, |
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maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions all over |
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the world; like the other littoral ships of the trimaran variant, it |
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will be stationed at Naval Base San Diego; and |
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WHEREAS, The naming of this combat ship in honor of the city |
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of Kingsville and Naval Air Station Kingsville is a reflection of |
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the role these communities have played in our nation's security, |
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and it is a source of great pride to area residents; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the christening of the USS |
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Kingsville. |