[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 19 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 19

    Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 5, 2019

    Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Brown) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Whereas, on May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, Jr., before a joint session 
        of Congress, declared, ``Now it is time to take longer strides--time for 
        a great new American enterprise--time for this Nation to take a clearly 
        leading role in space achievement, which in many ways may hold the key 
        to our future on Earth'', setting the goal of sending astronauts to the 
        Moon and returning them safely to the Earth;
Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (in this preamble 
        referred to as ``NASA'') mobilized and established the Apollo space 
        program to meet the goal set by President Kennedy;
Whereas the Apollo space program built on the achievements of the prior space 
        programs of NASA, including the Mercury and Gemini missions;
Whereas the successful Moon landing honored the tragic sacrifice of every 
        astronaut whose life had previously been lost in the service of United 
        States spaceflight research, including--

    (1) Roger B. Chaffee, Virgil I. ``Gus'' Grissom, and Edward H. White 
II, the astronauts whose lives were lost during pre-flight tests for Apollo 
1; and

    (2) Theodore C. Freeman, Charles A. Bassett II, Elliot See, Jr., Robert 
H. Lawrence, Jr., Michael J. Adams, and Clifton C. Williams, Jr.;

Whereas the crew of the Apollo 11 mission consisted of--

    (1) Neil Armstrong, Mission Commander;

    (2) Edwin E. ``Buzz'' Aldrin, Lunar Module Pilot; and

    (3) Michael Collins, Command Module Pilot;

Whereas James A. Lovell, Jr., Fred W. Haise, Jr., and William A. Anders stood 
        ready to support or stand in for the Apollo 11 crew;
Whereas, on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 crew launched from the NASA Launch 
        Operations Center, now known as the John F. Kennedy Space Center, aboard 
        a Saturn V rocket;
Whereas, on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the Eagle Lunar 
        Module on the surface of the Moon, and Neil Armstrong said to Mission 
        Control in Houston, Texas, ``Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle 
        has landed.'';
Whereas, when Neil Armstrong took the first step onto the Moon, he declared, 
        ``That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.'';
Whereas Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the flag of the United States in 
        lunar soil, recording the achievement of the country as the first to 
        land on the Moon;
Whereas Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin placed a plaque on the Moon that reads, 
        ``We came in peace for all mankind'', recording the peaceful, scientific 
        intent of the Apollo missions;
Whereas the Apollo 11 crew collected lunar samples and conducted experiments to 
        gain a better understanding of the composition of the Moon and 
        conditions on its surface;
Whereas the Lunar Laser Ranging Retroreflector installed by the Apollo 11 crew 
        is still used to measure the distance of the Moon from the surface of 
        the Earth;
Whereas the success of the Apollo 11 Moon landing was due to the skill, 
        dedication, and collective effort of tens of thousands of workers, 
        scientists, engineers, and contractors of the United States;
Whereas the trajectory calculations of Katherine Johnson and other 
        mathematicians in the computer pool at NASA were critical to the design 
        of the Apollo 11 mission and the rendezvous of the Apollo 11 Lunar 
        Lander with the Command and Service Module in lunar orbit;
Whereas the Apollo 11 mission demonstrated the focus and capability of the 
        scientific community of the United States and established the United 
        States as the world leader in space exploration;
Whereas the Apollo 11 Moon landing was broadcasted live over radio and 
        television to millions across the world;
Whereas, 50 years later, the Apollo 11 Moon landing continues to inspire 
        national scientific efforts in space, medicine, and other fields; and
Whereas the knowledge and experience gained from the Apollo space program 
        continues to inform missions to Mars, the far reaches of the solar 
        system, and beyond: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon 
        landing;
            (2) honors the bravery and skill of the crew of Apollo 11, 
        Neil Armstrong, Edwin E. ``Buzz'' Aldrin, and Michael Collins;
            (3) commends the efforts of all individuals of the United 
        States who contributed to the achievement of the Apollo 11 Moon 
        landing, exemplifying a cooperative effort on a national scale 
        that continues to inspire scientific progress; and
            (4) supports the continued leadership of the United States 
        in the exploration and utilization of space through human 
        spaceflight.
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