Recognizing the dedication of the employees at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Michoud Assembly Facility, the "Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out Team", who risked their lives during Hurricane Katrina's assault on southeast Louisiana, and kept the generators and pumps running to protect the facilities and flight hardware, and whose dedication kept the Michoud Assembly Facility an island of dry land, which made it possible to resume External Tank production less than 5 weeks after the storm passed.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 892) recognizing the dedication of the employees at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Michoud Assembly Facility, the ``Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out Team'', who risked their lives during Hurricane Katrina's assault on southeast Louisiana, and kept the generators and pumps running to protect the facilities and flight hardware, and whose dedication kept the Michoud Assembly Facility an island of dry land, which made it possible to resume External Tank production less than 5 weeks after the storm passed, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 892, as amended, the resolution now under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 892, as amended, which recognizes the dedicated employees of NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility, the Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out Team. Knowing full well the potential for disaster and the impending danger they faced as Hurricane Katrina bore down on the gulf coast, 38 dedicated and heroic individuals put themselves in harm's way to save the Michoud Assembly Facility which is of vital importance to our Nation's civil space program.

Located just 15 miles from New Orleans' French Quarter, this facility is where NASA constructs the space shuttle's external tanks. Before the shuttle, this facility was where NASA manufactured the gargantuan tanks on the Saturn rocket that took us to the moon, and in the future, NASA plans to use the facility to construct the rockets that will return us to the moon.

These brave 38 individuals risked life and limb to protect this valuable facility that ensures our Nation's preeminence in space. Facing 178 mile-per-hour winds that ripped large chunks of surrounding buildings clean off, the intrepid ride-out team kept to its motto, ``not on our watch.''

By keeping generators and water pumps running throughout the storm, they managed to prevent the facility from flooding and preserved important flight hardware that has kept the space program on track. Because of the ride-out team's efforts, the facility was up and running only 5 weeks after the storm had passed. All of us watched the drama unfolding on television.

After just 3 months, nearly all of the 2,000 employees had returned to the facility despite the fact that 600 of them had lost their own homes.

By saving the facility and returning it to operation as quickly as they did, they were able to get to work right away on the external tank modifications necessary for the second return to flight mission that took place successfully, I might proudly boast, this month.

Many of these individuals have rightly earned NASA's exceptional bravery medal from NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, but they are also worthy of the House's commendation as well.

So it is with a great deal of pride in these dedicated Federal employees, who had so much on the line, not just in their careers, but in their personal

lives, that I rise in support of this much overdue resolution, because as Administrator Michael Griffin stated earlier this year, ``not all of NASA's heroes fly in space.''

Madam Speaker, these heroes have their feet rooted solidly on the ground and work so hard to do so much for so many. I proudly salute them.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today I offer House Resolution 892, to give honor and thanks to those who braved Hurricane Katrina's fury in service to their country. As we approach the 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, I would like to recognize the men and women who stayed behind to protect NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in eastern New Orleans. The ``Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out Team'' was comprised of 38 Lockheed and NASA employees who risked their lives to protect the facility that produces the Space Shuttle external fuel tank, a vital component of the Shuttle program. Were it not for their efforts, the Shuttle program could have been grounded for years. In fact, if Michoud had been destroyed by Katrina, the U.S. would not be able to fulfill its commitment to its international partners, as there would have been no way for the U.S. to ferry vital supplies to equip the International Space Station. The ``Ride-Out Team'' volunteered to stay and protect valuable space flight hardware critical not only to NASA's Space Shuttle Program, but to the future of human space exploration. The Michoud facility is a vital component of America's Vision for Space Exploration, since derivatives of the external tank are part of the design for the next generation space craft.

As hurricane winds exceeded 130 mph and storm surge topped the 19 ft. levees surrounding the facility, the team worked tirelessly manning the pumping station and generators. After all was said and done, those dedicated individuals pumped more than 1 billion gallons of water out of the facility. Because of their efforts, operations at Michoud resumed mere weeks after Katrina's landfill.

Many of the ``Ride-Out Team'' lost everything they owned to the storm and many didn't know what had happened to their families until days after the storm had passed. They persevered even though all land routes to the facility had been cut off and they had no electricity or water for 21 days.

For their bravery in the face of unbelievable destruction and their unquestionable dedication to the space program, I ask this body to

recognize the members of the ``Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out Team'' and commemorate their heroism and selfless contribution to the United States, and enable America to continue to lead the world in space exploration.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 892, which recognizes the dedication of the employees at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, Michoud Assembly Facility. The end of next month is the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall on our Gulf coast. Today we celebrate the bravery exhibited by the ``Michoud Hurricane Ride-out Team,'' which saved not only the facility, but also our Nation's manned space program.

Last week, both Houses of Congress passed H. Con. Res. 448, which commended the men and women of NASA, the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery, and NASA Administrator Mike Griffin for the successful conclusion of the second return to flight test mission--STS-121. This would not have been possible without the 38 brave members of the Michoud Ride-out Team. Many of the members of this team lost their homes and did not know the fate of their families until days after the Hurricane. They risked their lives manning generators and pumps at the Michoud Facility to protect the Shuttle's external tank program and, hence, the future of the manned space program.

Despite the facility's proximity to the center of the hurricane's destructive path, only one external tank was damaged when a concrete panel fell and bounced off the side of the tank. Despite the extensive damage to the 832-acre facility and the entire surrounding area, the Ride-out team exhibited the bravery and the pride for the importance of the space program not only to our Nation, but also to the area in Louisiana.

In September, as Chairman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I am planning to travel to both the Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana and the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. I am looking forward to meeting some of these brave individuals, both at Michoud and at Stennis. Since I became the Chairman of this Subcommittee in 2005, I have visited 7 of NASA's 10 facilities around the country. I am looking forward to visiting and to learning even more of the importance of these NASA centers to our Nation's space program. Today, I want to extend thanks and gratitude from the American people for the outstanding work of these brave individuals at both the Michoud Assembly Facility and at the Stennis Space Center.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

First, Madam Speaker, let me point out this resolution before us today is because of the hard work of Representative Melancon from Louisiana. I thank our chairman for his help in bringing this before us today.

Madam Speaker, I want to speak in strong support of House Resolution 892, a resolution honoring the dedication of the employees of NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility who stayed at their post during Hurricane Katrina, and protected critical space program assets.

Madam Speaker, as you know, during late August of last year, Hurricane Katrina severely assaulted Southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi coast, resulting in massive damage and the evacuation of large numbers of citizens.

Yet, in the midst of the storm, there were countless examples of heroism. One example is the way in which 38 members of the Michoud Hurricane Ride-out Team stayed and protected the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility instead of fleeing the area.

These people deserve our thanks and praise for their dedication to preserving the Michoud Assembly Facility during the hurricane's passage through the region. By risking their own lives, they assured that Michoud was preserved as a vital facility in spite of the devastation wrought by Katrina.

During the hurricane, members of the ride-out team were able to keep the generators running, keep the pumps going, and protect the facilities and flight hardware that were entrusted to them. In addition, they were able to successfully ensure that the water from Hurricane Katrina did not overrun Michoud.

Madam Speaker, due to the team's skill, knowledge, and most importantly, their dedication, Michoud's external tank production for the space shuttle program was able to resume less than 5 weeks after the storm.

Madam Speaker, I think it is only fitting and proper that we honor these brave individuals for their heroic deeds, and I, once again, thank Representative Melancon for bringing this before us. I strongly urge passage of House Resolution 892.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the members of the ``Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out Team'' for their extraordinary efforts to protect NASA's Michaud Assembly Facility in the face of Hurricane Katrina. The employees of NASA, Lockheed Martin, and members of the New Orleans Fire Department who made up this team exhibited uncommon bravery and dedication. Cut off from the surrounding area due to roadway flooding, they remained on-site despite the lack of electricity and severely limited communications. These individuals willingly stayed on the facility in the face of the approaching storm and operated the pumps and generators that kept the facility dry.

As a result of the team's commitment, damage to the facility and the external tanks and hardware they produce was minimal. Within 5 weeks, the Michoud Assembly Facility was resuming production operations. I would like to thank the members of the team once again for their courage. The nation is grateful for the contributions they have made to the space program.