Recognizing 35th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Lunar Landing

RECOGNIZING 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLLO 11 LUNAR LANDING -- (House of Representatives - July 20, 2004)

Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 723) recognizing the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, and for other purposes.

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Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for his leadership on this issue and for his leadership here in the Congress on this issue of space exploration for many years.

Today, it has already been mentioned that we celebrate the accomplishments of NASA's Apollo 11 mission. Of course, it was back in 1961 that President Kennedy challenged NASA to meet the goals of sending people to the Moon and back. It was an exciting day only 8 years later when Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins represented all Americans when the first human steps were taken on the Moon.

President Bush has issued a new challenge for NASA, the vision for space exploration. I wholeheartedly support NASA in this endeavor, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. NASA is important to this country's economic well-being, and it inspires our children to dream of distant worlds that they may actually see in their lifetime. It may be one of our children or one of our grandchildren who take the first steps on Mars.

Although achieving the President's new vision may be some years in the future, we should all be aware of the many benefits and the spin-offs from NASA that reach all citizens of the United States, including those in each of our districts every day.

NASA-inspired communications satellites connect the world. Other NASA-launched satellites enable weather forecasters to track hurricanes, wildfires, volcanoes, and also assist emergency workers in those areas to prepare ahead in time of events that could have devastating impacts. The NASA power source used to separate the solid rocket boosters from the Space Shuttle is used in Lifeshears, a rescue tool which quickly cuts debris to free victims when they have been in accidents.

NASA has also made tremendous contributions to the medical field. NASA, technology first used to monitor the health of astronauts in space, has enabled health workers in today's hospitals to monitor many patients. One NASA researcher realized that his work study in small particles suspended in liquids could possibly help to detect cataracts, a condition that his father had suffered from. Now the instrument he designed is being adapted to identify other eye diseases, diabetes, and possibly even Alzheimer's.

Another NASA researcher, driven by his own hearing problem, used expertise that he had gained as an electronics instrumentation engineer at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to develop the Cochlear Implant. This device has restored hearing for thousands and allowed others born deaf to hear for the very first time.

A silicone chip originally developed for the Hubble Space Telescope makes breast cancer screening less painful, less expensive, and results in less scarring than the traditional biopsy.

If that is not enough for you to support NASA's budget, consider their dedication to the youth of this Nation. NASA-sponsored or cosponsored programs such as the Student Launch Initiative, the Annual Moonbuggy Race and the Team America Rocketry Challenge reach out directly to our young people and inspire them to look within themselves to invent, create, dream and strive for accomplishments.

NASA's Explorer Schools Programs have touched hundreds of minority and poverty-stricken communities to help educators in those systems with grants, materials, teaching guides and support for their math and science programs. NASA continues to benefit students even after they reach the college and university level through numerous grants, fellowships and programs.

Through these and other programs, NASA and Vision for Space Exploration will inspire this Nation's youth, motivating future generations to study math, science and engineering. The work these young people will aspire to assists them to reach dreams beyond their imagination. What better memorial could there be for the noble astronauts who have given their lives in pursuit of space and exploration than to create a brand-new generation of explorers and visionaries?

As I have detailed here, all citizens of the United States of America benefit in some way from NASA, whether from the thousands of jobs that were created in support of the programs, the commercial spin-offs from the research and technology developed, or by the impact of our young people through NASA's education initiative.

I hope my colleagues this afternoon will join me as we look forward to supporting NASA's budget for fiscal year 2005 and as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Apollo mission.