III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 451 

Congratulating astronauts Dr. Jessica U. Meir and Christina H. Koch for 

the historic accomplishment of completing the first all-female spacewalk. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 10, 2019 

Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. STABENOW, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. MURRAY, 

Ms. CANTWELL, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, 

Ms. WARREN, Mrs. FISCHER, Mrs. CAPITO, Ms. ERNST, Ms. 

DUCKWORTH, Ms. HASSAN, Ms. HARRIS, Ms. SMITH, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, 

Mrs. BLACKBURN, Ms. SINEMA, Ms. MCSALLY, Ms. ROSEN, Ms. HIRONO, 

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. BALDWIN, and Ms. MURKOWSKI) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating astronauts Dr. Jessica U. Meir and Christina 

H. Koch for the historic accomplishment of completing 

the first all-female spacewalk. 

Whereas, on October 18, 2019, Dr. Jessica U. Meir and 

Christina H. Koch became the first astronauts to take 

part in an all-female spacewalk; 

Whereas, although the first spacewalk took place in 1964, the 

first female spacewalk did not take place until 1984, 

when Kathryn Sullivan became the first woman of the 

United States to perform a spacewalk with male astronaut David Leestma; 


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•SRES 451 ATS 

Whereas the October 18, 2019 spacewalk was the first 

spacewalk for Dr. Meir and the fourth spacewalk for Ms. 

Koch; 

Whereas, during the 7 hour and 7 minute mission, the 2 astronauts successfully replaced a faulty 232-pound battery 

unit that charges and discharges the solar power system 

of the International Space Station; 

Whereas Dr. Meir and Ms. Koch continue to perform critical 

tasks in support of the mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (referred to in this 

preamble as ‘‘NASA’’) and are conducting numerous experiments to advance scientific knowledge and the understanding of the long-term effects of space on humans; 

Whereas Ms. Koch is expected to break the record for the 

longest single spaceflight by a woman when she completes 

her mission to the International Space Station, spending 

328 total consecutive days in space; 

Whereas Dr. Meir is a native of Caribou, Maine, and her impressive academic credentials include a bachelor of arts 

in Biology from Brown University, a master of science in 

Space Studies from the International Space University, 

and a doctorate in Marine Biology from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography; 

Whereas Ms. Koch is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 

and her superior academic credentials include a bachelor 

of science in Electrical Engineering, a bachelor of science 

in Physics, and a master of science in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University; 

Whereas NASA did not even admit women into its astronaut 

program until 1978; 


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•SRES 451 ATS 

Whereas Dr. Meir and Ms. Koch were both members of the 

2013 Astronaut Candidate Class of NASA, which was 

comprised of 8 astronauts and was the first class to include equal numbers of men and women; 

Whereas Dr. Meir and Ms. Koch are an inspiration to girls 

and boys across the United States and have spoken to 

hundreds of students from the International Space Station to answer their questions and to encourage them to 

pursue their dreams; 

Whereas developing the next generation of women astronauts 

is a priority for the study and exploration of space: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates and expresses pride in Dr. 

3 Jessica U. Meir and Christina H. Koch for success4 fully completing the first all-female spacewalk in his5 tory; and 

6 (2) supports the efforts of the National Aero7 nautics and Space Administration (referred to in 

8 this resolving clause as ‘‘NASA’’) to— 

9 (A) fully integrate women into the astro10 naut corps; and 

11 (B) ensure that one of the next humans to 

12 walk on the Moon will be a woman. 

Æ 


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