[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 421 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 421

Honoring the trailblazing accomplishments of the ``Mercury 13'' women, 
   whose efforts in the early 1960s demonstrated the capabilities of 
      American women to undertake the human exploration of space.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2007

Mr. Kagen (for himself, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Kind, and Mr. Gordon of 
 Tennessee) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on Science and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Honoring the trailblazing accomplishments of the ``Mercury 13'' women, 
   whose efforts in the early 1960s demonstrated the capabilities of 
      American women to undertake the human exploration of space.

Whereas all of the Mercury 13 women were accomplished pilots with commercial 
        ratings or better and at least 2,000 hours of flying time;
Whereas the Mercury 13 women passed the same rigorous physical and psychological 
        tests that the original Mercury 7 astronauts had to undergo;
Whereas the Mercury 13 women successfully completed their testing at the 
        Lovelace Clinic, in Albuquerque, New Mexico by the end of 1961;
Whereas the Mercury 13 women were prepared to continue their contributions to 
        America's space program at the Naval School of Aviation Medicine in 
        Pensacola, Florida, by undergoing advanced aeromedical examinations 
        using jet aircraft and military equipment, until they were informed that 
        their testing program was canceled;
Whereas the Soviet Union flew the first woman in space in 1963;
Whereas the United States flew the first American woman in space, Dr. Sally 
        Ride, in 1983;
Whereas the United States flew the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle, Lt. 
        Col. Eileen Collins, in 1995;
Whereas the Mercury 13 women served as pathfinders for NASA's female astronauts; 
        and
Whereas the careers of accomplishment of the Mercury 13 women can serve as an 
        inspiration for other young women who are considering pursuing a career 
        in aviation, astronautics, science, or engineering: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and honors the contributions of Myrtle 
        Cagle, Geraldyn ``Jerrie'' Cobb, Jan Dietrich, Marion Dietrich, 
        Mary Wallace ``Wally'' Funk, Jane Briggs Hart, Jean Hixson, 
        Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen, Irene Leverton, Sarah Lee Gorelick 
        Ratley, Bernice Trimble Steadman, Geraldine ``Jerri'' Sloan 
        Truhill, and Rhea Hurrle Allison Woltman; and
            (2) encourages young women to follow in the footsteps of 
        the Mercury 13 women and pursue careers of excellence in 
        aviation and astronautics, as well as in engineering and 
        science.
                                 <all>