IA 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 59 

Expressing support for designation of July 20th as ‘‘National Space Exploration Day’’ to commemorate the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon 

landing. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 4, 2019 

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma (for herself, Mr. BABIN, Mr. COOPER, 

and Mr. LAMBORN) submitted the following joint resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of July 20th as ‘‘National 

Space Exploration Day’’ to commemorate the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. 

Whereas President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, before a joint 

session of Congress on May 25, 1961, declared that ‘‘this 

Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before 

this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and 

returning him safely to the Earth’’; 

Whereas, on July 20, 1969, the world’s attention was riveted 

on the historic achievement of the first landing, footsteps, 

and exploration of our Moon; 

Whereas the 9-day mission of Apollo 11 kept the world spellbound from its July 16th launch through its July 24th 


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splashdown, securing its place among the epic voyages of 

human history with those of Magellan, Drake, Columbus, 

and others; 

Whereas United States national space policy provides for a 

United States-led, integrated program with commercial 

and international partners for a human return to the 

Moon, followed by missions to Mars and beyond; 

Whereas the purpose of the United States space program is, 

and has always been, the peaceful exploration of space 

for the benefit of all humanity; 

Whereas the United States space program has provided immense scientific and technological benefits affecting a 

multitude of aspects of 21st century life for all humanity; 

Whereas the United States space program, through otherworldly programs such as Apollo, Viking, Voyager, 

Cassini-Huygens, Spirit, Opportunity, New Horizons and 

other missions to the planets, the Space Shuttle, the 

Hubble Space Telescope, the International Space Station, 

and other great space efforts, have provided our Nation 

with unparalleled scientific and technological leadership 

in the space, aeronautics, medical, and engineering 

sciences; 

Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 

the United States aerospace industry, and educational institutions throughout the Nation contribute enormously 

to our Nation’s intellectual capacity through research and 

development in support of the space program, and add 

great strength to the United States economy; 

Whereas the United States space program and the aerospace 

industry engage the best and the brightest minds that 

mirror the scientific and technical skill and quality of the 


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highest order and the finest in our national character— 

sacrifice, ingenuity, inventiveness, commitment, and our 

unrelenting spirit of adventure; 

Whereas over 400,000 patriots, from government, industry 

and academia, made exemplary efforts to put our astronauts on the Moon, and those efforts created millions of 

private sector jobs as a result of the technological challenges they overcame to bring Project Apollo to fruition; 

Whereas the same spirit of adventure and engineering excellence that landed our Apollo space pioneers on the Moon 

may be applied to all noble pursuits involving peace, 

brotherhood, courage, unity of the human spirit, and the 

exploration of new frontiers; 

Whereas, as a Nation, it is important to mobilize and invigorate appreciation and enthusiasm for space, to advance 

science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through the excitement of space exploration, and 

to inspire today’s and future generations to build upon 

the accomplishments of our early space pioneers so they 

may reach new milestones of human achievement; and 

Whereas humankind will continue to explore, expand, and 

settle the new frontier of space with United States leadership, courage, and values for the benefit of future 

spacefaring generations and for life on Earth: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 That— 

4 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Space 

5 Exploration Day’’; and 


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1 (2) the President is authorized and requested to 

2 issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the 

3 United States to observe ‘‘National Space Explo4 ration Day’’ and invite industry and academia to ob5 serve ‘‘National Space Exploration Day’’ with appro6 priate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities com7 memorating one of the greatest scientific and tech8 nological achievements of our time to inspire new 

9 generations to aspire to ever loftier future space pio10 neering goals. 

Æ 


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