Recognizing Space Shuttle Commander Eileen Collins, Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence, and the contributions of all other women who have worked with NASA following the successful mission of Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-114.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman for his support and advocation for NASA and its work. I thank the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert); and of course the ranking member, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon), for their leadership, along with the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), chairman of our subcommittee; and of course the ranking member, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall).

I am especially appreciative that we would come today to acknowledge not only the leadership of women but also NASA's contributions to America. So I rise to speak as well to H. Res. 441 and H. Res. 446. I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who has been steadfast in reminding us of the importance of the involvement and the empowerment of women.

Is it not exciting that we can rise today as the Discovery crew comes to the United States Capitol to be able to acknowledge that Colonel Eileen Collins was, in fact, the commander of this particular outstanding effort to return United States to space.

One would wonder with Hurricane Katrina behind us and Hurricane Rita in front of us why we can stand before our colleagues to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of women to the safety and the advancement of humankind and Americans and as well that of NASA. And I say this: NASA equates to science and scientific discovery and advancement, and I am very proud to say that our lives have been made better by the contributions that NASA has made to society.

We were told early on that the use of NASA technology could have predicted or maybe not predicted, foreseen, detected the tsunami. We know now that we have seen the constant repetitiveness of hurricanes that NASA will be a very strong partner in determining how we can better detect the coming of hurricanes and be more safe.

So it is with great pride that I rise to thank Sally Ride, a neighbor in our community in Houston; Kathryn Sullivan; Christa McAuliffe, who lost her life in the earlier Challenger flight; and Judith Resnick; Mae Jemison, of course, who served as a role model for many, many young girls; Shannon Lucid; and of course Kalpana Chawla and Laurel Clark, who lost their lives in Columbia in the 2003 mission.

But today we have a lot to celebrate because Eileen Collins and Wendy Lawrence were part of that great Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-114. With their leadership, we return to space; and I believe we return to the opportunities that space allows.

I am always reminded, whenever we have the opportunity to salute what

NASA does, to say that the research has generated successes in detection and cure of strokes, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, cancer. So we know that NASA is part of our society, and it has the ability to enhance our society.

My congratulations to the Discovery crew, to the many women we honor today, such as Ellen Baker, Yvonne Cagle, Tracy Caldwell, Bonnie Dunbar, Anna Fisher, Marsha Ivins, Susan L. Kilrain, Wendy Lawrence, Ellen Ochoa, Judith A. Resnick who has passed of course, Sally K. Ride, Nicole Scott, and many, many others.

It is for us to carry forth their dream by providing the support from the United States Congress but, more important, it is to announce that these women are leaders but also that NASA has laid the groundwork for this society and all around the world to be advanced to a better quality of life.

My salute to NASA and to the fellow employees and as well to the leaders, women, who have taken us into space.

I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H. Res 450 which congratulates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Discovery crew. Let me offer my own personal congratulations to this brave crew who returned NASA to flight and made history in our Nation through the advancement of aeronautics.

Being from the City of Houston, which is home to the Johnson Space Center, I take great pride in the accomplishments of NASA. I am proud to say that I was among the Congressional Delegation that was at Cape Canaveral for the anticipated launch. While the correct decision was made not to launch that day, this brave crew was able to successfully complete its mission. The launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery came more than 2 years after the tragic Columbia shuttle accident. The crew of the Discovery included astronauts Steve Robinson, Jim Kelly, Andy Thomas, Wendy Lawrence, Charlie Camarda, Eileen Collins and Soichi Noguchi. With implementation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations completed, this crew of seven astronauts flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-114 to test new safety techniques and deliver needed supplies to the International Space Station. Two crewmembers, Steve Robinson and Soichi Noguchi, ventured outside the Shuttle three times on spacewalks. The first demonstrated repair techniques on the Shuttle's protective tiles, known as the Thermal Protection System. During the second spacewalk, they replaced a failed Control Moment Gyroscope, which helps keep the station oriented properly. Finally, they installed the External Stowage Platform, a sort of space shelf for holding spare parts during Station construction. STS-114 will also be the third trip of the Multi Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) named Raffaello to the Station. It's essentially a ``moving van'' that transports supplies to the orbital outpost.

I have consistently stated that since the Columbia shuttle accident, safety must be our number one priority. All Americans can look proudly upon the achievements of our space exploration when they look upon the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Truly, we as a Nation have come a long way in the area of space exploration since President John F. Kennedy set the course for our Nation when he stated in a speech at Rice University in 1962: ``We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of preeminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war . . . The great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said because it is there. Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it. And the moon and the planets are there. And new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. And therefore, as we set sail, we ask God's blessing, on the most hazardous, and dangerous, and greatest adventure, on which man has ever embarked.'' Our Nation has seen great tragedy and yet we continue to move forward because that is the only path that knowledge will accept; truly it is appropriate that this shuttle was named Discovery.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to rise today to pay tribute to our female astronauts. These heroines are not only a source of pride for all Americans, but they have also inspired countless women to reach for the stars in their own lives and careers.

The space program has long been one of the best examples of America's leadership role in the world. Our astronauts are daring, brilliant, and selfless, risking their lives for the sake of scientific discovery. But like our Nation itself, they were once divided along gender lines.

Indeed, when NASA was created by President Eisenhower in 1958, there were no female astronauts. Of course, there were no women on the Supreme Court back then, and in Congress there was just one female Senator, and only 15 women serving in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, we have come a long way in the last four decades. There are now 14 women Senators, 66 female Members of Congress, and at NASA women are not just along for the ride, they have assumed leadership roles in both the agency and on its missions, as we have seen by this fine work of Eileen Collins and Wendy Lawrence.

I am especially delighted today to recognize the achievements of my fellow New Yorker, Eileen Collins from Elmira, New York, who in 1999 became the first woman to command a space shuttle.

In 2003, Ms. Collins again took to the reins of a space mission, providing steady guidance to the Space Shuttle Discovery during an incredibly difficult and perilous mission.

Mr. Speaker, women have taken part in some of the greatest NASA missions, and some of the most heartbreaking too. Some of these women gave their lives for our country.

As a former teacher, I remember feeling incredibly proud when my colleague, Christa McAuliffe, was selected from more than 11,000 applicants to become the first civilian in space, the first teacher in space.

Of course, we were all horrified when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after lift-off, cutting short the lives of Christa and the other brave astronauts who flew with her.

The loss of the Challenger and, more recently, of the Space Shuttle Columbia were staggering blows to our country. But I know that our space program will rebound from these disasters, as it always has, with a new sense of purpose, stronger and more determined than ever.

I also know that as we rebuild, American women will be leading the way, inspired by the sense of duty to our country and by the women who have come before them. Women like Sally Ride, the first woman in space; Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman to perform a space walk; Mae Jeminson, the first African American woman astronaut; Shannon Lucid, who set a U.S. record for the most time living in space.

Thanks to these pioneering women astronauts, the sky is the limit for women and girls in this final frontier.

Today, we recognize the contribution of all of the women who work to realize the grand mission of NASA and who continue to contribute today.

Mr. Speaker, today our country faces an increasingly severe shortage of qualified math, science, and engineering students and professionals to fill the high-tech jobs of tomorrow.

Women have long been underrepresented in these fields, both in the workplace and in the classroom. It is essential to our economy, even to our national security, that we attract the best and the brightest to these fields.

The number of girls and young women entering math, science, and engineering is growing and moving in the right direction. And in our universities and workplaces, we need to cultivate nondiscriminatory environments to further this momentum.

NASA truly showcases the very best of what women can achieve and can contribute, and the fact that they can contribute equally. May the women pioneers we honor today inspire not only the astronauts, but the scientists, mathematicians, and engineers of tomorrow. I thank them for their wonderful contributions. I congratulate the entire team.

Mr. Speaker, I submit for printing in the Record the names of 29 current and 13 deceased or former female NASA astronauts.

Ellen Baker, Yvonne Cagle, Tracy Caldwell, Kalpana Chawla,

Laurel B. Clark, Mary Cleave, Catherine Coleman, Eileen

Collins, Nancy J. Currie, Jan Davis, Bonnie Dunbar, Anna

Fisher, Linda Godwin, Susan J. Helms, Joan Higginbotham,

Kathryn Hire, Marsha Ivins, Mae C. Jemison, Tamara E.

Jernigan, Janet Kavandi, Susan L. Kilrain.

Wendy Lawrence, Shannon Lucid, Sandra Magnus, Megan

McArthur, Pamela Melroy, Barbara Morgan, Lisa Nowak, Karen

Nyberg, Ellen Ochoa, Judith A. Resnik, Sally K. Ride,

Patricia C. Hilliard Robertson, Margaret Rhea Seddon,

Heidemarie Sefanyshyn-Piper, Nicole Scott, Kathryn C.

Thornton, Janice Voss, Mary E. Weber, Peggy Whitson, Sunita

Williams, and Stephanie Wilson.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res 450) recognizing Space Shuttle Commander Eileen Collins, Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence, and the contributions of all other women who have worked with NASA following the successful mission of Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-114, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res 450, the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for her insight into the contributions of women in the NASA community and to the success of our Nation's civil space program.

House Resolution 450 goes a long way in recognizing the importance of women to our Nation's civil space program, from Commander Elaine Collins and Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence of the Discovery mission, to the other 40 women who have served in NASA's Astronaut Corps.

To all of the women who offer ground support for the launches, these women in the sciences, our Nation offers a resounding thanks.

Not all of those women are often in the spotlight, but they still serve as inspiring role models for all our daughters. What better way to have our children think they can be whatever they aspire to be than to have everyone share the opportunity to get a bite of the apple of success.

In order for the United States to retain its global competitive edge, we need the contributions from all of our citizens. Since all advanced societies now depend on technology for their economic might, the new measure of that might are those graduates with degrees in science and engineering.

The United States is slipping in this category. We are producing a shrinking share of the world's technological talent. China and India are the newest and strongest competitors. The last time the U.S. graduated more engineering and scientific Ph.D.s than Europe and three times as many as Asia was in 1975.

These trends have reversed so now the European Union graduates about 50 percent more Ph.D.s than the United States, and Asia is slightly ahead of the United States.

At the current rate, China will probably overtake us by 2010. They have already produced nearly as many engineering graduates in a month as we do in a year. Outstanding role models inspire our young ladies to pursue a life of study and work in science and engineering.

Seeing these women doing exciting important jobs in our space program is the best way that I know to encourage our children to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank again the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for her thoughtful legislation. I plan to support this important legislation when it comes to a vote and encourage all Members to do the same.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt).

(Mrs. SCHMIDT asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert).

(Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H. Res. 450 which recognizes Space Shuttle Commander Eileen Collins, Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence, and the contributions of all other women who have worked with NASA following the successful mission of Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-114. Let me offer my own personal congratulations to these women who have not only advanced the cause of aeronautics through their work, but also they have advanced the cause of women through their determination.

Let me take a moment to recognize Commander Eileen Collins who successfully returned NASA to flight. LTC Eileen Marie Collins was born in Elmira, New York on November 19, 1956. As a child, Eileen dreamed about space and of becoming a pilot. Her parents often took her to the airport to watch the planes take off and land. The Collins family wanted Eileen to attend college, but did not have the money to send her. After high school, she attended Corning Community College. While there, she studied hard to earn a two-year scholarship to Syracuse University. In 1978 Eileen Collins graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University. Later, she went on to earn a master of science degree in operations research from Stanford University and a master of arts degree in space systems management from Webster University.

In 1979, LTC Collins graduated from Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base. In 1990, while attending the Air Force Test Pilot School, she was selected for the astronaut program. Eileen Collins became an astronaut in July 1991 and the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle on February 2, 1995. She made history once again in 1999. On July 23 LTC Collins became the first woman to command a Space Shuttle mission. Eileen Collins is also a wife and mother, but on top of all these titles and distinctions, she is an inspiration for many women throughout the world.

I also want to take a moment to recognize CAPT Wendy B. Lawrence who served as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Discovery. CAPT Lawrence is a native of Jacksonville and has flown on four missions to space. Lawrence graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981 with a degree in Ocean Engineering. She went on to earn a master of science degree in Ocean Engineering from M.I.T. in 1988. Her mission aboard Discovery was to transfer payloads back and forth from the International Space Station using the robotic arm. She's made history, too. She was one of the first two female helicopter pilots to make a long deployment to the Indian Ocean as part of a carrier battle group while stationed at Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Six. Clearly, she made history again when the Shuttle Discovery returned NASA to flight.

Both these women deserve great recognition for their work aboard the Shuttle Discovery and their lifetime of service to our Nation. Truly, many women from Sally Ride to Mae Jemison have made great strides to get to this day when a woman can command a space shuttle. To paraphrase a historic statement once made from the moon: `This is one small step for women and one giant leap for womenkind.'

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 450, a resolution to honor the women of NASA for their hard work and dedication. In 360 B.C., the great philosopher Plato bemoaned that ``nothing can be more absurd than the practice that prevails in our country of men and women not following the same pursuits with all their strengths and with one mind, for thus, the state instead of being whole is reduced to half.''

It has been more than 2,000 years since Plato made this simple, commonsense observation. It has not been easy; but in the intervening centuries, women have proven time and time again that they can excel in any field they choose. Along the way, there have been many trailblazers: Barbara Jordan, the stateswoman; Marie Curie, the scientist; Amelia Earhart, the pilot; Dr. Antonia Novello, the first woman and the first Hispanic Surgeon General.

Today, we honor some new additions to this august list, the talented women of NASA's astronaut core. Commander Collins and Mission Specialist Lawrence performed flawlessly on their latest mission aboard Space Shuttle Discovery.

They are but the latest examples of a long tradition of excellence among our female astronauts that stretches back over two decades to Sally Ride's historic mission as the first American female astronaut.

These astronauts stand as inspirations to young women, not only in this country but around the globe, who look at them and understand that no dream is out of reach because they realize that they too can do what others have done.

They should be very proud of their accomplishments.

Of course, in praising the astronauts, we should not neglect the contributions of other women of NASA: the scientists, the engineers, the program managers, and all of the others who contribute to our space program.

All of these talented women are trailblazers in their own right. I commend them for their hard work and the excellent example they set.

I want to thank the gentlewoman from New York, not only for her initiative in introducing this most thoughtful resolution but also for helping make real Plato's ideal of equality of opportunity for all.

I think it is a great resolution, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.