Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1315) commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Mr. 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. 1315, the resolution now under consideration.

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

I rise today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, whose many outstanding achievements have provided many immeasurable benefits for the United States and the world.

It was 50 years ago this month, specifically July 29, that President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 that established NASA. At that time, the American public was still reeling from the impact of the Soviet Union's successful

launch of Sputnik 1 in late 1957 which led to the space race with the Soviets. That race came to an end less than 12 years later when American astronauts successfully landed on the Moon and returned safely to Earth. NASA was the agency that led the effort to create a human space flight program from scratch and make America preeminent in space.

Yet as remarkable as NASA's achievements were in getting America to the Moon as well as to building the Shuttle and Skylab and the International Space Station, NASA has excelled in many other areas. NASA's aeronautics research and development activities over the past half century have led to significant advances in both civil and military aircraft. NASA's aeronautics programs have also helped to make America's aviation system a world leader in safety and have improved our quality of life in numerous ways.

In addition to human space flight and aeronautics, NASA has created space and Earth science programs that are second to none in the world in terms of advancing knowledge of our planet and of our universe. One only has to look at the ways in which the Hubble telescope, for example, has rewritten the astronomy textbook since its launch in 1990 to know that NASA's space-based science programs are really some of the Nation's premier research endeavors.

In addition, NASA's technology developments have rippled through our economy in countless ways, delivering new materials, new processes, and new systems that have had a major impact on things as diverse as health care and weather forecasting.

And finally, NASA continues to be a source of inspiration to our young people and a symbol to the world of America's technological and scientific preeminence. These are important realities that we should not overlook when we debate funding for NASA.

Mr. Speaker, investing in NASA has been and continues to be an investment in our future. I'm proud to be an original cosponsor of this resolution along with Mr. McCaul. I urge all of our Members to support it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Richardson).

Mr. Speaker, I will reserve the balance of my time for right now.

I yield myself 2 minutes, Mr. Speaker.

I've listened with interest to Congressman Gingrey's comments a few minutes ago about the advancements that NASA has made with regard to its energy usage. It has been tremendous.

On last Tuesday, I happened to have been at the Johnson Space Center watching the operation of the new lunar rover. It is a six-wheeled, actually double wheels, vehicle that runs entirely on battery power and has a magnificent amount of strength and longevity. It's the research that NASA has done in the development of better batteries, longer life for batteries, and the fact that they have been able to develop solar power to the extent that the International Space Station is entirely powered with solar collectors that are on that station, and the research that they are doing to increase the opportunity for us to be able to gather solar power in space and beam it down to Earth for our use, that continues to show the technological advancements and capabilities of our NASA, of our National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The work that they have done on the development of fuel cells and hydrogen, all of these magnificent technologies have come because of the commitment that they have had to look at new and different and better ways of doing things. And thank goodness they have looked at it in exactly the way Dr. Gingrey was saying, balanced.

We've got to find a way to make sure that we're looking at all sources of energy, and NASA is showing exactly how to accomplish that task.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) for his work on this legislation to bring attention to the wonderful work of the people who have run our National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Mr. McCaul made reference earlier to teachers and students going and visiting the Johnson Space Center in Houston. I remember taking students and classes myself back around 1970--actually, before we stepped foot on the Moon in 1969--and the wonderment, the excitement that all of the people who have had anything at all to do with NASA have been able to instill in young people, causing them to want to go and study math and science and engineering. What a great thing to do. And what a great day to be able to stand and say congratulations on 50 years of service and operation and advances in technology for our country and for the world.

So this is fitting that we support House Resolution 1315 in commemoration for NASA in its 50 years of operation. I ask all of my colleagues to support the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, this year we celebrate many important anniversaries in our Nation's civil space and aeronautics programs. Earlier this year, I introduced H. Con. Res 287, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the United States Explorer I satellite, the world's first scientific spacecraft, and which marked the birth of the United States space exploration program. Since the successful Explorer I launch, we have built the world's leading civil space and aeronautics enterprise. Our human expeditions into space, our robotic science probes exploring the Earth and beyond, and our aeronautical research and development initiatives continue to deliver inspiring results and provide benefits to society.

Today, I am pleased to be an original co-sponsor of three resolutions that mark other key milestones in our civil space and aeronautics activities: H. Res. 1315, Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; H. Res. 1313, Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the First American Woman in Space; and H. Res. 1312, Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Space Foundation.

H. Res. 1315 commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which was established on July 29, 1958, through the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. NASA has achieved countless successes over the 50 years since its creation and H. Res. 1315 recalls many of the agency's accomplishments in human exploration, aeronautics, and space and Earth science. I strongly agree with the sentiment expressed in H. Res. 1315, ``. . . in the last fifty years, NASA has positively impacted almost every facet of our lives.'' NASA's contributions to aviation, to increased understanding of our climate, to the advancement of our knowledge of the universe, and to the development of countless technologies that have made their way into broader societal applications have fundamentally changed our lives.

Madam Speaker, the applied uses of NASA research and developments have enabled weather and environmental monitoring, commercial satellite communications, and major improvements in commercial aviation. H. Res. 1315 marks NASA's successful launches of the first American manned spacecraft in 1961, the first human expedition to the Moon in 1969, and the first Space Shuttle in 1981. NASA's international cooperative ventures have allowed many of the world's nations to join together in advancing technology and knowledge through the peaceful uses of outer space. NASA's first 50 years have yielded truly remarkable discoveries and advances. I want to thank Mr. McCaul of Texas, who along with Mr. Lampson of Texas, introduced H. Res. 1315. H. Res. 1315 is an important opportunity to recognize NASA's half century of achievements and the men and women of NASA that have made them possible, and I am pleased to support it.

As a result of NASA's human exploration program, we also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first American woman in space, Dr. Sally K. Ride. H. Res. 1313 commemorates that date in June of 1983 when Dr. Ride flew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, making history by becoming the first American woman in space. She went on to fly a second mission in 1984. When training for Dr. Ride's third mission ended as a result of the tragic Challenger accident, she continued her contributions to NASA and the Nation as an educator and advisor. H. Res. 1313 honors Dr. Ride's passion and dedication as a tireless advocate for young women and girls to pursue education and careers in science, mathematics, and technology. The opportunities she is creating for our youth, especially girls and young women, to acquire hands-on learning in science will go far in training the next generation of leaders in science and engineering. That is something I care passionately about, and I thank my colleague, Mr. Lampson of Texas for introducing H. Res. 1313.

In addition to the important role of our Federal government in the Nation's space and aeronautics programs, many non-governmental organizations provide outreach, education, and advocacy that enhance our space and aeronautics activities. That is why I strongly support H. Res. 1312, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Space Foundation. The Space Foundation, which is headquartered in Colorado Springs in my home state of Colorado, is a non-profit organization dedicated to using space to benefit humanity and furthering space exploration, development, and education. Since 1983, the Space Foundation has helped to ensure the strength and leadership of our space programs, and I am pleased that we can acknowledge the Space Foundation's endeavors in this regard. I thank my colleague, Mr. Lamborn of Colorado, for introducing this resolution recognizing the Space Foundation for its 25 years of excellence and service.

Madam Speaker, our nation's space and aeronautics programs are critical sources of innovation and inspiration for our Nation. The contributions of NASA, our astronauts, and our space advocacy organizations provide benefits for our society, help strengthen our economy, and help train the next generation of scientists and engineers. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1315 commemorating the 50th anniversary of NASA; H. Res. 1313 celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first American woman in space, Dr. Sally K. Ride; and H. Res. 1312 commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Space Foundation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in strong support of this resolution, H. Res. 1315, honoring NASA on its 50th anniversary.

As an original cosponsor of this resolution, I'd like to commend my colleagues from the Science Committee, the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Lampson, the ranking member, Mr. McCaul of Texas, for introducing the thoughtful resolution commemorating NASA on this important milestone for our country.

Mr. Speaker, over the years, NASA has not only been the leader in human space exploration, but has successfully used technological capabilities like, as mentioned by my colleagues, the Hubble Telescope and GPS systems. I anticipate the men and women of NASA, they will continue being the true leaders and innovators in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, as we speak today, NASA is undergoing aggressive research to convert domestic energy sources, coal, natural gas, biomass, oil shale, into cleaner and more economical alternatives to traditional jet fuel. Now, why is that important? It's important, Mr. Speaker, because in the

year 2003, the NASA agency spent $4.5 million on their jet fuel, 4.6 million gallons. In 2007, 4 years later, they spent $18.3 million. So they're doing this research in conjunction with the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force to try to find alternative sources of fuel to lower the costs to the government.

And everybody in this chamber, everybody in this Nation, knows that we are suffering tremendously from a lack of supply and a tremendous demand, and that's why we're paying $4.11 a gallon for regular gasoline.

We can solve this problem, but there's one little glitch, and that's the Democrat Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which absolutely prohibits NASA and the Department of Defense from utilizing any petroleum source other than conventional petroleum if it's not as clean.

Well, in times like these, when the country's on the verge of bankruptcy, I think the first priority, Mr. Speaker, should be to lower the price of gasoline, and let NASA continue to research so that we can make the conversion of shale which has something like 1.3 trillion barrels of petroleum embedded in that rock and that we can convert coal to liquid, to petroleum. We have 1.5 trillion tons of coal in this country, and we only use about 1 billion tons a year. We have a tremendous excess amount of coal right here in River City, and yet, this energy bill the Democrats passed last year prohibits us from going after this source, increasing the supply so that the price of gasoline at the pump goes down.

And I would implore my colleagues to bring these bills to the floor. They're over there. There's a discharge petition. Republicans have signed them, just a handful of Democrats. We need to bring these issues to the floor, have an up-or-down vote. At least give NASA and the Department of Defense a waiver of section 526 so that we can solve this problem and we're not so dependent on these foreign Nations that hate our guts, countries such as Venezuela and countries in the Middle East.

It's time to act. I commend the committee for bringing this resolution. It's a great resolution honoring NASA on its 50th anniversary. I support it fully, but I also support a balanced approach to solving our energy needs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1315 honoring NASA on its 50th anniversary. As an original cosponsor of this resolution, I would like to commend my colleague from the Science Committee, Mr. McCaul of Texas, for introducing this thoughtful resolution to commemorate NASA on this important milestone for our country.

Mr. Speaker, there is no Federal agency that has risen to the challenge of innovation over the last 50 years like NASA. We, as a nation, are today the fortunate heirs of NASA's legacy: conviction, resolve, achievement.

When the Soviets put a man into orbit, NASA was challenged by President Kennedy--in the truest form of the American competitive spirit--to put men on the moon. Many of our NASA pioneers paved the way for the crew of Apollo 11--Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins--to reach that once unattainable goal. Now, those famous words, ``One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind'' exemplify the legacy that NASA has established.

Over the years, NASA has not only been the leader in human space exploration, but has successfully used technological capabilities like the Hubble Telescope to explore the far reaches of our galaxy. Given the precedent of achievement that NASA has set, I anticipate the men and women of NASA to continue being among the true leaders and innovators in the years to come.

While this resolution represents a time for us to celebrate the achievements of NASA over the past 50 years, this is also a time to reflect and memorialize those who gave their lives in their service to NASA and the Nation--particularly the crews of Apollo 1 in 1967, the Challenger in 1986, and the Columbia in 2003. The sacrifices that these men and women made in the service of our country will always remind us of the fragile nature of human life, and the risks associated with successes that NASA has accomplished.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to take this time to think about the impact and legacy that NASA has left our great Nation over the last 50 years, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 1315.

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

I want to thank my colleague and friend from the Houston area for his support in this resolution.

I rise today in support of H. Res. 1315, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, otherwise known as NASA. NASA was founded on July 29, 1958. On May 5, 1961, the first American was launched into space on Freedom 7, and that was Alan Shepard. On July 20, 1969, President Kennedy's dream was fulfilled when Apollo 11 landed on the Moon. Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon at that time, and the first space shuttle Columbia launched on April 12, 1981.

NASA has inspired generations of interest in science and engineering in young people. I remember taking one of the astronauts through my school district all the way from Houston to Austin, Texas, and just the hope and the dreams that she and NASA's program inspires in our young people, particularly in the fields of math and science, is truly an inspiration, I think, for all of us as Members of Congress.

NASA's work has really led to technological and scientific advantages that benefit everyone in society, including satellite communications. We all use cell phones. Lord knows we all use our BlackBerrys here in Congress and elsewhere. We have a great understanding of the human body because of the knowledge gained during man's space flight.

This program, based at the Johnson Space Center in Mr. Lampson's district and not too far from mine, is an important part of the Houston area economy. More than 15,000 people are employed at the Johnson Space Center, and NASA's work is an example of how the government and the private sector can work together to make this world a better place.

It's vital that the Congress act, in my view, to minimize the gap between the retirement of the space shuttle and the start of Orion, to maintain our leadership role in space exploration. And through the International Space Station, NASA currently serves as a model of international cooperation.

NASA's work has greatly expanded our knowledge of our universe. The Hubble Telescope, as my colleague from Houston talked about, launched in 1990, is still providing us with useful data and bringing the schoolchildren the wonders of space. NASA has sent probes to eight different planets in the solar system.

We can't think about the space program without the President who launched it, President Kennedy, and when he explained why space exploration is so important and so necessary, he said, ``The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join it or not, and it is one of the greatest adventures of all time, and no Nation which expects to be the leader of other Nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space . . . 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 all people.''

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) for 4 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Feeney).

Mr. Speaker, let me say once again how proud I am have to have introduced this resolution. I appreciate the support of the gentleman from Texas, my friend and colleague, and the support of the colleagues on my side of the aisle as well.

The NASA space program has proven to provide a great return on our investment in terms of Federal research and development dollars, and I would urge this Congress to continue that investment.

A recent article in The Washington Post today outlined that the U.S. finds it's getting crowded out in terms of dominance in space as other nations step up their efforts. China plans to conduct its first spacewalk in October. The European Space Agency is building a roving robot to land on Mars. And India recently launched a record 10 satellites into space on a single rocket. We cannot fall behind. That is not the intent, the purpose, the vision of NASA.

``Space, like Earth below, is globalizing. And as it does, America's long-held superiority in exploring, exploiting and commercializing the final frontier is slipping away,'' according to this article, ``many experts believe.''

And although the United States remains dominant in most space-related fields and owns half the military satellites currently orbiting Earth, experts say the Nation's superiority is diminishing and many other nations are expanding their civilian and commercial space capabilities at a far faster pace.

Michael Griffin said, ``We spent tens of billions of dollars during the Apollo era to purchase a commanding lead in space over all nations on Earth.'' However, this agency's budget is down 20 percent since 1992. According to Mr. Griffin, ``We've been living off the fruit of that purchase for 40 years and have not chosen to invest at a level that would preserve that commanding lead.''

We have authorized funding for NASA. I was proud to support that; I think we can do better. We need to continue to support this very important program which provides not only great scientists and engineers for this country, but allows us to be competitive globally in all areas, including science and technology and energy, but also in the wonders of space.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1315, Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA. As we mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the United States space program, this legislation reaffirms the ever growing and changing role of NASA, providing resources to carry the agency forward with its ambitious agenda of research, exploration, and discovery. I would like to thank Congressman McCaul for introducing this important legislation, as well as the Science Committee Chairman for his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor today.

I have long supported NASA and I have offered an amendment to H.R. 6063, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008.

My amendment clarifies that the NASA Outreach and Technology Assistance Program will include small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses. It would also give preference, in selection of businesses to participate in the program, to socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and HUBZone small business concerns.

Mr. Speaker, today's resolution will allow NASA to continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, keeping our Nation on the forefront of innovation and exploration. After the Columbia disaster, NASA stands at a pivotal moment in its history. It is the responsibility of this Congress to ensure. that the future of NASA is one of continued progress. Space exploration remains a part of our national destiny. It inspires our children to look to the stars and dream of what they too, one day, may achieve. Space exploration allows us to push the bounds of our scientific knowledge, as we carry out research projects not possible within the constraints of the planet Earth. As a Nation, we have made tremendous strides forward in the pursuit of space exploration since President John F. Kennedy set the course for our nation in 1962, calling it the ``greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked.'' Despite the setbacks of recent years, including the tragedy that befell

the Space Shuttle Columbia, NASA and the American people have refused to abandon the pursuit of knowledge of our universe. On October 1, 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration began operation. At the time it consisted of only about 8,000 employees and an annual budget of $100 million. Over the next 50 years, NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory have been involved in many defining events occurred which have shaped the course of human history and demonstrated to the world the character of the people of the United States.

Many of us remember how inspired we were when on May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed: ``I believe this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish. ``The success of the United States space exploration program in the 20th Century augurs well for its continued leadership in the 21st Century. This success is largely attributable to the remarkable and indispensable partnership between the National Aeronautics, and Space Administration and its 10 space and research centers. One of these important research centers is located in my home city of Houston. The Johnson Space Center, which manages the development, testing, production, and delivery of all United States human spacecraft and all human spacecraft-related functions, is one of the crown jewels of the Houston area.

Today, NASA is the Nations' primary civil space and aeronautics research and development agency, and its current activities employ over 18,000 Americans. Today's legislation reaffirms the fundamental operating principles of NASA, emphasizes the importance of NASA leadership in a range of endeavors such as Earth observations and research, aeronautics reach and development, and an exploration program.

Always on the forefront of technological innovation, NASA has been home to countless ``firsts'' in the field of space exploration. America has, countless times, proven itself to be a leader in innovation, and many technologies that have become part of our everyday lives were developed by NASA scientists. The benefits of NASA's programming and innovation are felt far beyond scientific and academic spheres. Space technologies provide practical, tangible benefits to society, and NASA provides valuable opportunities to businesses in our community.

I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation, and in support of the future of American innovation and exploration.