[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 59 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 59

  Expressing support for designation of July 20th as ``National Space 
Exploration Day'' to commemorate the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon 
                                landing.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 4, 2019

Ms. Kendra S. Horn of Oklahoma (for herself, Mr. Babin, Mr. Cooper, and 
   Mr. Lamborn) submitted the following joint resolution; which was 
           referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing support for designation of July 20th as ``National Space 
Exploration Day'' to commemorate the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon 
                                landing.

Whereas President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, before a joint session of Congress on 
        May 25, 1961, declared that ``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 the Earth'';
Whereas, on July 20, 1969, the world's attention was riveted on the historic 
        achievement of the first landing, footsteps, and exploration of our 
        Moon;
Whereas the 9-day mission of Apollo 11 kept the world spellbound from its July 
        16th launch through its July 24th splashdown, securing its place among 
        the epic voyages of human history with those of Magellan, Drake, 
        Columbus, and others;
Whereas United States national space policy provides for a United States-led, 
        integrated program with commercial and international partners for a 
        human return to the Moon, followed by missions to Mars and beyond;
Whereas the purpose of the United States space program is, and has always been, 
        the peaceful exploration of space for the benefit of all humanity;
Whereas the United States space program has provided immense scientific and 
        technological benefits affecting a multitude of aspects of 21st century 
        life for all humanity;
Whereas the United States space program, through otherworldly programs such as 
        Apollo, Viking, Voyager, Cassini-Huygens, Spirit, Opportunity, New 
        Horizons and other missions to the planets, the Space Shuttle, the 
        Hubble Space Telescope, the International Space Station, and other great 
        space efforts, have provided our Nation with unparalleled scientific and 
        technological leadership in the space, aeronautics, medical, and 
        engineering sciences;
Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States 
        aerospace industry, and educational institutions throughout the Nation 
        contribute enormously to our Nation's intellectual capacity through 
        research and development in support of the space program, and add great 
        strength to the United States economy;
Whereas the United States space program and the aerospace industry engage the 
        best and the brightest minds that mirror the scientific and technical 
        skill and quality of the highest order and the finest in our national 
        character--sacrifice, ingenuity, inventiveness, commitment, and our 
        unrelenting spirit of adventure;
Whereas over 400,000 patriots, from government, industry and academia, made 
        exemplary efforts to put our astronauts on the Moon, and those efforts 
        created millions of private sector jobs as a result of the technological 
        challenges they overcame to bring Project Apollo to fruition;
Whereas the same spirit of adventure and engineering excellence that landed our 
        Apollo space pioneers on the Moon may be applied to all noble pursuits 
        involving peace, brotherhood, courage, unity of the human spirit, and 
        the exploration of new frontiers;
Whereas, as a Nation, it is important to mobilize and invigorate appreciation 
        and enthusiasm for space, to advance science, technology, engineering, 
        and math (STEM) education through the excitement of space exploration, 
        and to inspire today's and future generations to build upon the 
        accomplishments of our early space pioneers so they may reach new 
        milestones of human achievement; and
Whereas humankind will continue to explore, expand, and settle the new frontier 
        of space with United States leadership, courage, and values for the 
        benefit of future spacefaring generations and for life on Earth: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Space 
        Exploration Day''; and
            (2) the President is authorized and requested to issue a 
        proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to 
        observe ``National Space Exploration Day'' and invite industry 
        and academia to observe ``National Space Exploration Day'' with 
        appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities 
        commemorating one of the greatest scientific and technological 
        achievements of our time to inspire new generations to aspire 
        to ever loftier future space pioneering goals.
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