[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1380 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1380

 Supporting the designation of July 20, 2024 as ``National Moon Day''.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 23, 2024

 Ms. Salinas submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
             the Committee on Oversight and Accountability

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the designation of July 20, 2024 as ``National Moon Day''.

Whereas, on July 20, 1969, Michael Collins orbited the Moon while Neil Armstrong 
        and Buzz Aldrin landed the Lunar Module Eagle on the Moon, making the 
        Apollo 11 mission the first crewed lunar landing in human history;
Whereas the first crewed lunar landing marked a turning point in human history;
Whereas the first crewed lunar landing inspired a generation of children in the 
        United States to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics (``STEM'') fields;
Whereas the Apollo missions and subsequent space activities, including research 
        and development aboard the International Space Station, have yielded 
        technological advancements benefitting all of society;
Whereas science aboard the international space station continues to provide 
        societal benefits, including by providing a unique microgravity 
        environment for studies seeking to better understand disease and improve 
        human health;
Whereas the Apollo missions continue to drive scientific inquiry today, 
        including through the Apollo Next-Generation Sample Analysis program, 
        which allows researchers to examine lunar samples with cutting edge 
        scientific instrumentation;
Whereas, on December 11, 2017, President Donald Trump issued a presidential 
        memorandum known as ``Space Policy Directive-1'' calling for the United 
        States to lead the return of humans to the Moon for long-term 
        exploration and utilization;
Whereas, on August 9 2022, President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act, 
        which included the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        Authorization Act of 2022, authorizing the Artemis missions to return 
        the United States to the Moon under the Moon to Mars Program, including 
        with the first woman and person of color;
Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (``NASA''), along with 
        its commercial and international partners, is pursuing the Artemis 
        campaign to return humans to the Moon and one day send humans to Mars;
Whereas NASA's space exploration programs have helped spur a $211.6 billion 
        commercial space economy in the United States supporting 360,000 private 
        sector jobs;
Whereas the United States leadership in space, exemplified by the role of the 
        Apollo 11 lunar landing in the culmination of the space race, is 
        critical to the United States national security and economic 
        competitiveness and must be sustained;
Whereas human space exploration, including the return of humans to the Moon, 
        provides opportunities for scientific and technological breakthroughs 
        that will contribute to the economy of the future, improve human health, 
        and provide benefits to society; and
Whereas, on December 9, 2021, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted 
        resolution 76/76 on ``international cooperation in the peaceful uses of 
        outer space'' designating July 20 as ``International Moon Day'': Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Moon Day''; and
            (2) encourages people in the United States to mark National 
        Moon Day by--
                    (A) celebrating NASA's human spaceflight program 
                astronauts who served on the Mercury, Gemini, and 
                Apollo missions and all those who served to make those 
                missions possible, paving the way for all human space 
                activity;
                    (B) honoring the fallen astronauts who made the 
                ultimate sacrifice during the pursuit of human space 
                exploration;
                    (C) honoring the workers and craftspeople on Earth 
                who study, design, fabricate, and construct the 
                technologies that allow human space exploration;
                    (D) educating their friends, neighbors, and elected 
                representatives about the value of human space 
                exploration to the economy, society, and human health;
                    (E) inspiring young people to pursue careers in 
                science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
                fields; and
                    (F) celebrating the United States continued 
                leadership in space and return to the Moon through the 
                Artemis missions and the Moon to Mars Program.
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