Date: 2006-04-05
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 366. legislation honoring the 25th anniversary of the first flight of the Space Transportation System at NASA. It is hard to believe that 25 years have passed sifice Space Shuttle Columbia took flight. Columbia was the first manned. reusable spacecraft that was flown into orbit. The heroic courage of Columbia astronauts and the NASA scientists and engineers on the ground has inspired a generation of future scientists. engineers and mathematicians. NASA and the Johnson Space Center have had a tremendous impact on the Texas economy. This partnership has led to the development of many new technologies and is an economic powerhouse for our State. The Johnson Space Centers combined workforce accounts for 16.000 Texas jobs. The total economic impact of the Space Center on the State of Texas exceeds over 26.000 employees with personal incomes of over $2.5 billion and total spending exceeding $3.5 billion. NASA also provides $72 million for grants and contracts to Texas universities and colleges. as well as $44 million to Texas nonprofit organizations. Mr. Speaker. NASA touches every State in our great Nation. and I believe it is fitting to honor this milestone in NASAs history. * My warm congratulations go to NASA and the Space Shuttle Columbia. its crew and team on the ground. I support this bipartisan legislation and urge my colleagues support. Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker. I rise to honor all the men and women who have made our space shuttle program possible. I would like to commend Commander John Young and Pilot Robert Crippen for being pioneers in their field. With the liftoff of the Space Shuttle Columbia on April 12. 1981. we were launched into a new era of space flight and exploration. The importance of their mission to our Nation cannot be overestimated. Our desire to explore space. to go beyond this world. is rooted firmly in a human desire that has existed since the first of us stared into the night sky. It is a desire that has been passed down through human history and has found deep roots in America. We live in a land where pioneers stood on the frontier and bravely journeyed beyond what was known. Our space program continues that proud tradition of accomplishments. When challenged by President Kennedy to put a man on the moon before the de&des end. America could not even put a man into earths orbit. but we answered the call. Weve stood on the Moon. and have begun to unlock many of the secrets of Mars. We could not have come so far without the knowledge and experience gained from the shuttle flights. With our accomplishments. weve also experienced tragedy. The brave men and women who gave their lives in pursuit of knowledge are a constant reminder that no matter how hard we try to ensure safety. exploration always comes with a risk. As a nation. we should not shirk these risks. just as our forbearers did not. We should use them as guideposts to remind ourselves of the challenges and difficulties of exploring space. The men and women of NASA have. taken our dreams and made them real. I thank them for their vision. sacrifice. and dedication.