Congratulating NASA and the "Discovery" Crew

CONGRATULATING NASA AND THE ``DISCOVERY'' CREW -- (House of Representatives - September 20, 2005)

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Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the brave crew of STS-114 for their hard work and dedication in carrying out the space shuttle's return-to-flight mission.

The astronauts of STS-114 did a superb job. They performed their tasks flawlessly, executing complex maneuvers, conducting several space walks, performing on-the-fly repairs, and delivering critically needed supplies to the International Space Station. In short, they made it look easy, but in fact we know that it was an extremely challenging mission.

I am pleased that this House is honoring their accomplishments today. At the same time, I think they would be the first to acknowledge that they did not do it alone.

The STS-114 crew was backed by a superb team on the ground who also deserve our praise. The engineers and support staff who made this mission possible should be equally proud of their accomplishments. Their hard work and long hours spent preparing for this mission are fully recognized and gratefully appreciated.

Thus, by our actions today, we thank all of those who are responsible, not just the astronauts, but the entire NASA team, thousands of dedicated men and women at NASA centers and at contractor facilities across the country. We thank them for their dedication and perseverance, and we want them to know that they are special to us.

NASA has made great strides since the tragic Columbia accident. While it is clear that additional work lies ahead, it is fitting that we take a moment to celebrate what has been accomplished thus far.

I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Chairman CALVERT) for his leadership in introducing this outstanding resolution, and I am honored to speak in support of it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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