[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 29, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          SPACE STATION ALPHA

  (Mr. GRAMS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. Speaker, July marks the 25th anniversary of the Apollo 
11 moon landing--the culmination of one of the most significant 
undertakings this Nation has ever known. Yet on the eve of this 
historic event, the House is debating termination of the Space Station.
  The United States has always been the leading economic and military 
power. By investing in futuristic research and exploring the unknown, 
we expanded the envelope of technology and created millions of jobs.
  While some argue that Space Station doesn't impact their 
constituents, I disagree. Since its inception, the space program has 
resulted in countless spinoff technologies that positively impact our 
everyday lives.
  The development of life-saving technologies such as programmable 
pacemakers and bioreactors for culturing ovarian and breast cancer 
cells have dramatically improved medical care. And environmental 
technologies such as water purification systems help us improve our 
world.
  Some in this body have used the budget as an excuse to scuttle the 
Space Station. Yet, if the Space Station were terminated, these same 
members would turn around and waste these dollars on the Great Society 
programs that have failed. From a cost-benefit perspective, eliminating 
the Space Station would be ``penny wise and pound foolish.''
  Today, let us recall the vision of President Kennedy and ask 
ourselves whether its time to return America from a nation of failed 
social programs to a nation of pioneers. America cannot afford one 
small step for man and one giant leap backward.

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