Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2472, the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility Act.

Congresswoman Horn, you have been a trusted and valued colleague and have ably served our Nation and your constituents. I want to express my deep appreciation for your assistance on today's legislation and for your friendship as you served so honorably in this Congress. In the busy days before the end of the session, Ohio is truly grateful for your assistance in getting this bill to the finish line. We can't thank you enough.

Mr. Speaker, the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility Act renames the NASA Plum Brook Station after a true American hero, who happened to be a Buckeye, an Ohioan.

Our State is known for aviation, for its flight milestones, for its courageous heroes and inventors. The Plum Brook Station, located in Sandusky, Ohio, is a true asset to American excellence in space exploration. The facilities at the site are second to none. They contain the Space Environments Complex, with the world's largest space test chamber.

In its In-Space Propulsion building, it has a space chamber where you can fire an upper stage rocket. There is also a world-class clean-air hypersonic wind tunnel that even the Department of Defense didn't know about, and a space chamber to test equipment to simulate planetary surface conditions.

Imagine what someone like Neil Armstrong had to learn in order to be successful in that history-making flight.

These capabilities enable our scientists to prepare for the rigors of space exploration.

The Plum Brook Station and test facility is a national asset. Today, it is being renamed after an American pioneer in human history. This year, Plum Brook Station finished testing the Orion spacecraft that will fly the Artemis I mission. This mission will eventually return a person to the Moon.

Fifty-one years after Neil Armstrong captivated the world with his famous words that united humankind and allowed us to dream for a common purpose, the Nation turns our attention back to this test facility. How humble it was when he said, ``One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.''

Mr. Speaker, I also want to express my deep appreciation to Representative Anthony Gonzalez's partnership on this bill. I am pleased to see him managing the Republican time today. I couldn't be happier. He and his staff have been able to be collegial partners in securing a floor vote, and I thank him for that. I also thank our colleagues in the other body who have helped as well.

I, along with the people of Ohio, are also extremely grateful to Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson; Ranking Member Lucas; our Senate colleagues, Senators Brown and Portman, for their bicameral partnership on today's legislation. This is the way Congress should work.

In these days of uncertainty for our society and planet, renaming the NASA test facility at Sandusky, Ohio, for Neil Armstrong offers a reminder to the world of our common purpose that can give us the giant leaps that lie ahead for humankind. Indeed, America must continue reaching for the stars and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2472, the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility Act.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source