TRIO Media Group
Contact: Justin Rubner
justin@triomediagroup.com
404.255.1970 e.110
Washington D.C. – Feb. 2, 2010 – Legislation that would change the name of the Department of the Navy to the “Department of the Navy and Marine Corps” has gained substantial traction in recent months.
The bill (H.R. 24) on Jan. 6 advanced to the Committee on Armed Services and is expected to be heard this spring on the House of Representatives floor—for the first time. To help expedite the legislation, a companion bill (S.504) has been introduced in the Senate—also for the first time.
To help raise public awareness of the legislation, a grassroots campaign, Marine Corps Identity Cause, has been formed.
The effort has attracted well-known supporters, including FedEx founder and CEO Fred Smith and actor R. Lee Ermey—both Marine veterans.
Ermey, star of “Full Metal Jacket”, has signed on to be Marine Corps Identity Cause’s spokesman and has publicly voiced his support for the name change in an online video. On Feb. 11, he will hold a press conference in Washington D.C. to further discuss the campaign.
Other supporters include:
• North Carolina Rep. Walter B. Jones, who introduced H.R. 24
• Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, who introduced S.504
• Marine Corps League, sponsor of Marine Corps Identity Cause
• MarineParents.com Inc.
• Former Secretary of the Navy Lawrence Garrett
• Col. Oliver North
• Veterans of Foreign Wars
• The Fleet Reserve Association
• Many more
Every year since 2001, Rep. Jones has introduced legislation that would give the Marine Corps equal status with the Navy.
"As a former Marine, I applaud Congressman Jones' effort to recognize the unique contributions of the USMC to our country,” said FedEx’s Smith.
H.R. 24 has received 362 co-sponsors—
“We’ve never had this kind of support from both sides of Congress,” said Michael Blum, national executive director of the Marine Corps League. “After years of campaigning, this movement has gained unparalleled traction. Plus, we see an all-time high perception of the public toward our Marines.”
In addition to reflecting the Marine Corps in the department name, the bill would redesignate the Secretary of the Navy to the “Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps.”
If the bill were passed, costs would be minimal. Further, the use of “Marine Corps” and “Navy” in the same name is not without precedent. The home of Navy football is at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Other examples include the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and Navy-Marine Corps Tactical Aviation.
“We’re not asking for a secretary of the Marine Corps or anything complicated or expensive,” Blum said. “We’re just asking for equal billing.”
Rep. Jones said it’s finally time for the Marine Corps, which has fought with the Navy since 1775, to be properly honored.
“This bill is about showing the nation the true meaning of the department and recognizing the overall importance of the Marine Corps to our national security,” Jones said. “It’s also about honoring our Marines who’ve fought and died in battle.”
