[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 451 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 451

Congratulating astronauts Dr. Jessica U. Meir and Christina H. Koch for 
    the historic accomplishment of completing the first all-female 
                               spacewalk.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 10, 2019

 Ms. Collins (for herself, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Murray, 
Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Shaheen, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Warren, 
 Mrs. Fischer, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Ernst, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Hassan, Ms. 
  Harris, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Sinema, Ms. 
McSally, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Baldwin, and Ms. 
Murkowski) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Congratulating astronauts Dr. Jessica U. Meir and Christina H. Koch for 
    the historic accomplishment of completing the first all-female 
                               spacewalk.

Whereas, on October 18, 2019, Dr. Jessica U. Meir and Christina H. Koch became 
        the first astronauts to take part in an all-female spacewalk;
Whereas, although the first spacewalk took place in 1964, the first female 
        spacewalk did not take place until 1984, when Kathryn Sullivan became 
        the first woman of the United States to perform a spacewalk with male 
        astronaut David Leestma;
Whereas the October 18, 2019 spacewalk was the first spacewalk for Dr. Meir and 
        the fourth spacewalk for Ms. Koch;
Whereas, during the 7 hour and 7 minute mission, the 2 astronauts successfully 
        replaced a faulty 232-pound battery unit that charges and discharges the 
        solar power system of the International Space Station;
Whereas Dr. Meir and Ms. Koch continue to perform critical tasks in support of 
        the mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        (referred to in this preamble as ``NASA'') and are conducting numerous 
        experiments to advance scientific knowledge and the understanding of the 
        long-term effects of space on humans;
Whereas Ms. Koch is expected to break the record for the longest single 
        spaceflight by a woman when she completes her mission to the 
        International Space Station, spending 328 total consecutive days in 
        space;
Whereas Dr. Meir is a native of Caribou, Maine, and her impressive academic 
        credentials include a bachelor of arts in Biology from Brown University, 
        a master of science in Space Studies from the International Space 
        University, and a doctorate in Marine Biology from the Scripps 
        Institution of Oceanography;
Whereas Ms. Koch is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and her superior 
        academic credentials include a bachelor of science in Electrical 
        Engineering, a bachelor of science in Physics, and a master of science 
        in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University;
Whereas NASA did not even admit women into its astronaut program until 1978;
Whereas Dr. Meir and Ms. Koch were both members of the 2013 Astronaut Candidate 
        Class of NASA, which was comprised of 8 astronauts and was the first 
        class to include equal numbers of men and women;
Whereas Dr. Meir and Ms. Koch are an inspiration to girls and boys across the 
        United States and have spoken to hundreds of students from the 
        International Space Station to answer their questions and to encourage 
        them to pursue their dreams;
Whereas developing the next generation of women astronauts is a priority for the 
        study and exploration of space: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates and expresses pride in Dr. Jessica U. 
        Meir and Christina H. Koch for successfully completing the 
        first all-female spacewalk in history; and
            (2) supports the efforts of the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration (referred to in this resolving clause as 
        ``NASA'') to--
                    (A) fully integrate women into the astronaut corps; 
                and
                    (B) ensure that one of the next humans to walk on 
                the Moon will be a woman.
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