H5868 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 12, 2012 

HONORING THE LIFE OF NEIL 

ARMSTRONG 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

Texas (Mr. OLSON) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to honor a true American hero, 

Neil Armstrong, a space pioneer who 

profoundly influenced world history. 

I can still remember wearing my 

most prized possession, a blue Fly Me 

to the Moon T-shirt with the Apollo 11 

mission insignia on it. I remember the 

feeling of seeing those grainy images of 

Neil on the Sea of Tranquility and, as 

he put his left foot down on lunar soil, 

his famous ‘‘One small step for man, 

one giant leap for mankind.’’ 

That historical moment changed 

America forever, and the world 

changed with us. And Neil Armstrong’s 

quiet heroism helped catapult America 

to be the global leader. His legacy of 

American exceptionalism inspired generations of young people to take up 

science and space exploration. 

In the 43 years since his Moon mission, Armstrong believed deeply that 

America should continue to explore 

new worlds. Upon learning the Obama 

administration had canceled NASA’s 

plans to return to the Moon, Neil Armstrong, a very private man, became a 

vocal critic of this failure and the willingness to allow other nations to surpass America’s space leadership. The 

state of NASA’s human space exploration plans, he told Congress last fall, 

is ‘‘lamentably embarrassing and unacceptable.’’ 

One of the highlights of my life will 

always be shaking the hand of my 

childhood hero. Neil and I were united 

in our opposition to President Obama’s 

plan to cancel the Constellation program and diminish the priority of 

human spaceflight in his 2010 budget 

and National Space Policy documents. 

It was humbling to work with Mr. 

Armstrong and several other Apollo astronauts like Gene Cernan and Jim 

Lovell to fight to restore a strong 

NASA budget and develop a comprehensive human space exploration 

program worthy of America’s greatness 

as explorers. 

America needs a clear and purposeful 

mission worthy of our Nation’s continued investment to regain our leading 

role and remain the dominant human 

space country in the world. 

Our Nation suffers a great loss with 

Neil Armstrong’s passing, but his courage and commitment to greatness live 

on in the next generation of explorers 

to come. 

For the rest of my time on this planet, I will continue to honor his contributions to American exceptionalism 

and his legacy by pushing for a strong 

human space exploration program that 

will take America to the Moon, to 

Mars, and beyond. 

My thoughts and prayers are with 

Neil Armstrong’s family and the entire 

NASA family as we cope with this tremendous loss. America mourns with 

you as we remember Neil’s amazing 

journey. 

Neil’s philosophy about life is captured best by advice given by one of 

Neil’s Moon-walking brothers, Gene 

Cernan, when he spoke to a group of 

students at Sartartia Middle School in 

my hometown of Sugar Land, Texas. 

Gene told the kids, ‘‘Always shoot for 

the Moon, because if you miss, you’ll 

see the stars.’’ 

Neil Armstrong gave us the Moon so 

we can look to the heavens and see the 

stars. Thank you, Neil. 

God bless. 

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ANGELS IN ADOPTION 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

Mississippi (Mr. NUNNELEE) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. NUNNELEE. Madam Speaker, 

this week, the Congressional Coalition 

on Adoption is recognizing the individuals and families from around the 

country who’ve enriched the lives of 

children through foster care and adoption. I rise this morning to share the 

story of a couple who have dedicated 

their lives to providing not just a home 

for children, but a family. 

Pat and Sandra Nunnelee, from 

Tupelo, Mississippi, had lived the 

American Dream. They married in 

their teens, and over the next 14 years 

had four children born into their family. When they married, Pat was working in a low-paying manufacturing job. 

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But he soon entered the profession of 

life insurance sales. He possessed a 

good personality and a strong work 

ethic. Because of that, he was a natural 

for the business, and his career advanced quickly both in income and in 

prestige. 

Sandra had a love of infants and a desire to be a nurse. However, she decided 

to forgo her nursing education and her 

career in order to get married and then 

raise a family. Later, she did enter into 

nursing school. In fact, she graduated 

from nursing school the same year her 

oldest child graduated from high 

school. 

By 1980, they were in their mid-forties, and they were enjoying the fruits 

of their labors together. Pat had become vice president of one of the largest life insurance companies in his 

State. Sandra was enjoying the love of 

her life—taking care of newborn babies 

as an intensive care nurse. They were 

enjoying a standard of living that neither of them had ever thought possible. 

In addition, empty nest was in sight. 

Two of their children were in college, 

and two others weren’t far behind. In 

short, life was good. They’d worked 

hard, and they were nearing a stage of 

life when they could really begin to 

enjoy it. 

But any plans they may have made 

changed in November of 1980 when a 

little girl was born prematurely. That 

month, while America was preparing to 

celebrate Thanksgiving, we were 

watching the peaceful transition of 

power begin in the White House, and 

we were watching an international hostage crisis. So, when the world is 

watching Presidents and Ayatollahs, 

who cares when a little premature girl 

is born? Thank God somebody did. 

This little girl was born with numerous health problems, and the pediatrician’s quick diagnosis was that this infant wouldn’t live through the night 

and that medical staff should make her 

short time on Earth as peaceful as possible. At the conclusion of the shift, 

Sandra left her patient with the belief 

that this little girl would not be alive 

when she got back to work the next 

morning. 

Much to her surprise, when she arrived the next morning for work, the 

little girl was still alive. She’d proven 

to have a strong will to live, but she’d 

been abandoned by her parents. So, 

after 3 months in the intensive care 

unit, her pediatrician observed to Sandra one day, We’ve done miracles for 

this child, but the one thing we’ve not 

been able to give her is a home. She 

has never had anyone to hold her, to 

rock her, or to sing to her. Over the 

next few days, Pat and Sandra became 

foster parents. She left her job, and the 

child entered their home. 

Child number five. 

Three years later, Sunday lunch was 

interrupted by a desperate knock at 

the door. Sandra had taken a leave of 

absence from her job to take care of 

this little girl, and she volunteered to 

offer child care to a single mom from 

the hospital where she worked. That 

young woman was having a great deal 

of difficulty coping with the many demands of being a single mom. 

She desperately asked, Ms. Nunnelee, 

would you please take my baby. 

Thinking there must be some kind of 

temporary crisis, the Nunnelees replied, Yes, we’ll be glad to take care of 

your child for a couple of days. 

The young mom responded, I don’t 

want you to take him for a couple of 

days. I want you to take him forever. 

Child number six. 

Four years after that was another 

desperate contact, this one a phone call 

from the County Department of Human 

Services. An infant boy had been born 

with very severe heart problems. The 

doctor’s prognosis was that he wouldn’t 

live beyond age 10 or 12. His parents 

didn’t want to keep such a sick child. 

There were no available foster parents 

with the medical expertise or the willingness to adopt such a child in that 

condition. 

The desperate social worker said, 

You’ve done more than any family 

should be asked to do, but there is nobody else. 

Child number seven. 

That child has lived more than a decade beyond the doctor’s initial prognosis, and while he still has some 

health problems, he has recently completed school, and he has moved out on 

his own. For the first time in 54 years, 

Pat and Sandra Nunnelee don’t have a 

child in their home. Oh, holidays, 


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September 12, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5869 

though, are filled with the noise of 

seven children and their spouses and 

several grandchildren. 

In recounting their decision to commit to raising a second set of children 

at a time in their lives when their 

peers would be enjoying life, Pat loves 

to tell the story of a little boy on the 

beach. It seems a storm had washed 

several thousand starfish ashore, and 

as the tide receded, the stranded 

starfish were dying in the glaring sun. 

One by one, a boy began to hurl 

starfish back into the ocean. A cynical 

man observed his actions and commented on the futility of such efforts 

in light of the enormity of the problem. 

You are wasting your time. You can 

never make a difference with so many 

starfish. 

The boy simply hurled another into 

the sea and replied, I made a difference 

for that one. 

These are true American heroes. 

Their grandchildren call them Mimi 

and Pat-daddy. Their friends call them 

Pat and Sandra. My six brothers and 

sisters and I are proud to call them 

Mom and Dad. 

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THE STORMING OF OUR EMBASSIES: AN ATTACK AGAINST 

AMERICA 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

Nebraska (Mr. FORTENBERRY) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, last year, an intense debate was 

under way in Congress as to how to respond to the turmoil in Libya. The imminent slaughter of the people of 

Benghazi by former dictator Qadhafi 

led the United States to sustain a 

NATO-led coalition to stop the bloodshed. Now our Ambassador to Libya, 

Chris Stevens, is dead—killed by the 

very people we went there to save. 

Americans can tolerate ingratitude; 

Americans can tolerate insult, but 

Americans cannot tolerate the senseless killings of the official representative of our country and three other diplomatic personnel. 

The governing structures of Libya 

must respond in the strongest way. 

They should publicly state their condemnation and commitment to restoring order. Democracy is not an election. It is the understanding of the protection of the inherent dignity and 

rights of each person supported by the 

structures that bring about the just 

rule of law. 

We honor Ambassador Stevens, Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith, and 

two others whose names I do not yet 

have for their heroic service. May they 

rest in peace. 

Similarly, in Cairo, Egypt, the 

storming of our Embassy represents an 

attack on America. By the norms of 

international law, custom and tradition, the scaling of the walls of our 

Embassy severely threatens America’s 

longstanding relationship with Egypt 

so fruitfully solidified after the peace 

accords in the Middle East in the 1970s. 

President Morsi must decide: Will his 

government tolerate chaos and violence? Will he abandon Egypt’s leading 

role as a force for stability in the Middle East? Will he use democracy for the 

consolidation of power while rejecting 

its central tenets? 

The responsibility of President 

Morsi’s is also to speak swiftly and 

state clearly that the Egyptian Government, duly elected, is committed to 

its international responsibilities and 

the deeper responsibilities of self-government. 

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RECESS 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair 

declares the House in recess until noon 

today. 

Accordingly (at 10 o’clock and 58 

minutes a.m.), the House stood in recess. 

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AFTER RECESS 

The recess having expired, the House 

was called to order by the Speaker pro 

tempore (Mr. S

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IMPSON) at noon. 

PRAYER 

Reverend Matthew Mello, the Church 

of the Resurrection, Lakeland, Florida, 

offered the following prayer: 

Dear God, we give You thanks for 

giving us another day. 

We ask for Your blessings to this legislative body as they govern the welfare of all the people of this great Nation. Endow them with wisdom, discernment, courage, and conviction to 

engage the issues of our day, and for 

the generations to come to be better 

off as a result of all decisions made 

within this assembly hall. 

Bind them together in a shared commitment to You, a passionate patriotism, and a deep dedication to find creative solutions in the concerns that 

confront us and divide us in these 

times. 

We remember our Ambassador, Christopher Stevens, and his colleagues. 

We ask that this be done this day and 

in the days to come, giving honor and 

glory to You, our God, and we pray 

Your blessings be upon us always. 

In Your name we pray. 

Amen. 

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THE JOURNAL 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair has examined the Journal of the 

last day’s proceedings and announces 

to the House his approval thereof. 

Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved. 

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the 

gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. ELLISON) come forward and lead the House 

in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Mr. ELLISON led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: 

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the 

United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, 

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 

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WELCOMING REVEREND MATTHEW 

MELLO 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without 

objection, the gentleman from Florida 

(Mr. ROSS) is recognized for 1 minute. 

There was no objection. 

Mr. ROSS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I 

wanted to take a brief moment to say 

thank you to today’s chaplain. I would 

also like to thank the Speaker for 

making this possible. 

The invocation today was offered by 

Father Matthew Mello of Resurrection 

Catholic Church in my hometown of 

Lakeland, Florida. 

Mr. Speaker, in 1963, my mother and 

father helped found the church Father 

Mello calls home. And like my parents 

and most Floridians, Father Mello is a 

geographic mutt: born in New Jersey, 

attended grade school in Puerto Rico, 

went to high school in Florida, attended seminary in Indiana, and studied theology in Chicago. 

We don’t know if he’s a Yankees fan, 

a Cubs fan, or a White Sox fan. But one 

thing’s for certain: since 1998, Father 

Mello has been a constant and reassuring presence in the spiritual life of 

countless residents of my hometown 

and to my family. His presence in my 

dad’s final year of life was a comfort to 

him as well as to my family. 

Father Mello personifies Christ’s instruction to us to be the ‘‘servant of 

all.’’ I firmly believe, as the Bible also 

says, ‘‘that the fervent prayer of a 

righteous man availeth much.’’ Knowing Father Mello, I have no doubt that 

today’s prayer was heard on high. 

I thank him for his prayer today and 

his lifetime of service. 

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER 

PRO TEMPORE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair will entertain 15 further requests 

for 1-minute speeches on each side of 

the aisle. 

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RELEASE OF PASTOR YOUCEF 

NADARKHANI 

(Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) 

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, Pastor 

Youcef Nadarkhani has been released 

from prison in Iran. After 3 years of 

suffering in prison, with the death penalty hanging over his head on false 

charges, Pastor Youcef is now home 

with his family. This weekend he was 

suddenly brought before a court, convicted on a more minor sentence, and 

granted time served. 


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