Ross Spano

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Fifty years ago, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins launched from Florida's coast at Kennedy Space Center with the goal of being the first to step foot on the Moon.

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong accomplished what was only a short time prior believed to be impossible. He became the first man to set foot on the Moon, uttering the famous words, ``That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.''

Those words ring through history, but it is important that we also recognize the hundreds of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and support staff who worked tirelessly to ensure mission success but do not receive the public recognition that they deserve for their contributions.

One example of this is Susan Finley. She began her career as a computer programmer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and wrote software for the Deep Space Network. That software made it possible to hear the transmissions from the Moon that showed the world what was possible when the United States committed to achieving the impossible.

I am also incredibly proud that 50 years after this accomplishment, Florida remains at the forefront of space exploration. Today, the new crew capsules designed to launch American astronauts into space are being built, and I hope that by the end of this year, in which we are celebrating the first Moon landing, we will again see American astronauts climb into American-built capsules and launch into space from Florida's shores.

We have relied on Russian spacecraft for too long, and this will inspire a new generation of American children to develop a passion for exploration and to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, just as the Apollo program did 50 years ago when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first to set foot on the Moon.

President George Bush said: ``Mankind is drawn to the heavens for the same reason we were once drawn into unknown lands and across the open sea. We choose to explore space because doing so improves our lives and lifts our national spirit. So let us continue the journey.''

Congratulating Michaela McLean, Miss Florida 2019

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Michaela McLean on her crowning achievement of being named Miss Florida 2019.

Michaela, a graduate of East Ridge High School in Clermont, Florida, and

daughter of two citrus growers, is no stranger to pageants, as she had also previously been named Miss Florida Citrus.

To win this latest competition, she was able to showcase her skills as a collegiate dance major, a talent she uses to express her dreams and her struggles.

She has plans now to use her other college major of public relations to help promote Florida's economic and cultural strengths.

Michaela will promote her social impact initiative called Brave & Beautiful, which encourages women to develop healthy habits while living purpose-driven lives. Brave & Beautiful has already launched conferences in multiple schools in central Florida and has made an impact internationally in Kenya, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to hear how Michaela is using her many gifts to help transform lives, and I applaud her efforts. She is a wonderful role model for our young women.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Randall Edwards, a veteran of World War II, who this month turns 102 years old.

Edwards enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1935, at 18 years old, and served as a first class radioman for the USS Canopus in the Philippines. He then joined Allied ground forces, where he and his unit were captured and sent to a Japanese prison camp.

He spent 3 years as a prisoner of war, and despite being forced to work 7 days a week in appalling conditions and becoming nearly deaf due to abuse, he never allowed his spirit to be broken. In fact, after the war, he reenlisted in the Navy and was sent to Japan to serve in the U.S. occupying force. Edwards later became a national service officer for the American Ex-Prisoners of War organization, helping other veterans reintegrate.

Warrant Officer Edwards survived some of the worst of World War II, and he persevered through captivity and returned to bring democracy to his captors. Mr. Edwards represents the greatest of our Greatest Generation, and on behalf of a grateful nation, I say thank you.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express grave concern with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.

Every year, Congress is tasked with funding our military. These funds do everything from feeding our troops to equipping them for combat, to giving them and their families medical care.

Because this funding is of such vital importance for our troops and our national security, these bills normally pass through Congress with wide bipartisan support.

However, despite the President, senior military officials, and a bipartisan Senate all agreeing on a funding level, House leadership has proposed a bill $15 billion less than what experts say is required.

This bill represents one of the worst political games I have seen in this House. It puts our servicemembers at risk and leaves our entire Nation vulnerable by underfunding personnel accounts, vital modernization initiatives, and deterrence against foreign aggression.

I call upon this House to follow us in this lead to set aside our differences and authorize these programs at the levels needed to protect our troops and our Nation.