Recognizing May 20 as “National Women in Aerospace Day”.

Recognizing May 20 as “National Women in Aerospace Day”.

Whereas National Women in Aerospace Day recognizes and emphasizes the importance of American women in aviation, human spaceflight, and other related aerospace fields, including—

(1) Harriet Quimby, the first American woman to earn a pilot’s license;

(2) Bessie Coleman, the first African-American person to earn a pilot’s license;

(3) Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and was instrumental in the formation of The Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots;

(4) Jacqueline Cochran, the first woman to break the sound barrier;

(5) Pearl I. Young, the first female technical employee at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), and a pioneer in technical writing;

(6) Jerrie Cobb, the first woman to undergo and pass the same physical testing developed for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) astronaut selection, and a staunch advocate for women in space flight;

(7) Katherine Johnson, a mathematician who provided calculations and analyzed data for NACA, and then NASA, including for the Freedom 7 mission and for Apollo missions;

(8) Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first Chief of Astronomy and first female executive, a prominent figure in development of the Hubble Space Telescope, and the namesake of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope currently under development at NASA;

(9) Eleanor Williams, the first African-American woman to be certified as an air traffic controller;

(10) Emily Howell Warner, the first woman to become a United States airline captain;

(11) Dr. Sally Ride, a physicist and the first American woman to travel to space;

(12) Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, a geologist and the first American woman to perform a spacewalk;

(13) Dr. Mae Jemison, a medical doctor and the first African-American woman to travel to space;

(14) Dr. Ellen Ochoa, an engineer and the first Hispanic woman to travel to space and the first Hispanic director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center;

(15) Patrice Clarke-Washington, the first African-American woman to become a United States airline captain;

(16) Colonel Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot and to command a space shuttle;

(17) Dr. Christine Darden, an engineer whose research revolutionized aerodynamics design, particularly to reduce the production of sonic noise, and the first African-American woman at NASA Langley to be promoted to Senior Executive Service, the top rank in the Federal civil service;

(18) Dr. Jeanette Epps, an engineer and the African-American astronaut who has spent the most time in space;

(19) Dr. Jessica U. Meir, a scientist who (along with Christina Koch) conducted the first 3 all-female spacewalks;

(20) Christina Koch, an engineer who (along with Jessica U. Meir) conducted the first 3 all-female spacewalks, is the recordholder for the longest single space flight by a woman, and is set to become the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit on the Artemis II mission in 2026; and

(21) countless other women whose pioneering achievements and dedication have expanded the frontiers of aerospace;

Whereas women’s contributions in the field of aerospace have been critical to its success;

Whereas women currently make up only roughly 20 percent of the aerospace workforce;

Whereas increasing the number of women in the aerospace field will be critical to maintaining a competitive aerospace workforce and programs; and

Whereas diversity in any field incorporates different experiences, which can ultimately lead to more creative and pioneering solutions;

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) recognizes the celebration of “National Women in Aerospace Day” as a time to reflect on the many notable contributions that women have made to the field of aerospace in the United States;

(2) urges the people of the United States to observe National Women in Aerospace Day with appropriate programs and activities; and

(3) affirms the commitment of the House of Representatives to ensuring that all women have equal access to opportunity in the aerospace field.