[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 SUPPORT FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 353

                                 ______


                         HON. NORMAN Y. MINETA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 12, 1994

  Mr. MINETA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Joint 
Resolution 353, the National Apollo Anniversary Observance. My 
colleague Mr. Bateman and myself, as co-chairs of the House Space 
Caucus, introduced this resolution to nationally celebrate a bright and 
shining moment in the history of America.
  When the Apollo 11 rocket launched from the Kennedy Space Center on 
July 16, 1969, America's hopes and dreams were carried with it. Ten 
years earlier President Kennedy launched this mission to the Moon, one 
of America's greatest challenges.
  At home, the United States was facing many domestic and foreign 
problems. Instead of focusing all of our efforts inward, we reached for 
the stars. We united as a nation to go the extra mile--we pushed our 
development of technology and knowledge of the world around us. As then 
President Kennedy said:

       [W]e choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the 
     other things, not because they are easy, but because they are 
     hard * * * 

  Make no mistake, Neil Armstrong's first step on the Moon was a 
powerful moment for all of humankind. But it was also the culmination 
of years of hard work by American engineers and scientists. That first 
step was achieved by the American people.
  And so, 25 years later we still feel the force of that moment of 
contact with another world. Not only in the symbolism of that moment, 
but also in the practical application of the technology that placed 
humans on the Moon.
  Today, technologies developed in part through space research, like 
imaging systems to detect heart conditions of sunglasses that block 
harmful UV rays, improve the lives of everyday Americans. Technology 
developed for the Apollo missions is helping to push U.S. progress and 
competitiveness into the 21st century.
  Twenty-five years later the United States is once again embroiled in 
solving domestic issues at home, and feeling the pressure to solve many 
foreign problems abroad. During these times it becomes easy to falter.
  But we must not allow ourselves the luxury of cynicism. During these 
times we must remember that historic Moon landing and the bravery of 
astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Mike Collins.
  We must remember that is was America's ingenuity, our hope and our 
technology that took us to places of which our forefathers could only 
dream.
  I would like to take a few extra moments to thank Chirag Patel, Brian 
Kennedy, Jennifer Cohen, Vick Sandhu, and Elna Shah for all of their 
hard work on this commemorative.

                          ____________________