[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 95 (Wednesday, July 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST MOON LANDING

  Mr. GLENN. Today is the 25th anniversary of the fist landing on the 
Moon by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and there have been a number of 
meetings and celebrations today, one of which was at the White House 
this afternoon, where most of the astronaut corps gathered for remarks 
by the President in the East Room.
  I think the President's remarks today were particularly apropos on 
this anniversary day, and I asked that they give us a copy of his 
remarks.
  I ask unanimous consent that the President's remarks be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

   Remarks by the President at the 25th Anniversary of ``Apollo 11''

       The President: Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President. 
     Members of Congress. Veterans of the Apollo program. The 
     friends of the space program in America and, most of all, to 
     those whom we honor here today.
       Just a day before he died, President Kennedy compared our 
     space program to a boy who comes upon a wall in an orchard. 
     The wall is tall, it looks insurmountable, but the boy is 
     curious about what lies on the other side. So, he throws his 
     cap over the wall and then he has no choice but to go after 
     it.
       Twenty-five years ago today, our nation, represented by 
     these three brave men, made that climb. And, so, today we are 
     gathered to celebrate their voyage and I honestly hope to 
     recommit ourselves to their spirit of discovery. Apollo 11, 
     Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were our 
     guides for the wondrous, the unimaginable at that time, the 
     true handiwork of God. They realized the dreams of a nation. 
     They fulfilled an American destiny. They taught us that 
     nothing is impossible if we set our sights high enough.
       Today, we're honored to have them and all the other Apollo 
     astronauts who are here with us. For every American who 
     followed your journey especially for those of us who were 
     young on that fateful day 25 years ago, and for the young 
     Americans who still dream dreams of a future in space, we 
     thank you all.
       Looking back on that mission, one thing is clear that we 
     ought to remember today. It wasn't easy. The ship to the 
     heavens measured just 13 feet in diameter. The destination 
     was three days and a world away. On the third day as the tiny 
     module descended to the Moon, it came dangerously close to a 
     crash landing--that happens around here all the time--
     (laughter)--but Neil Armstrong took over the controls from 
     the computer and landed safely. Man had not been rendered 
     obsolete by the mechanical and that hasn't happened yet.
       Not long after that when he stepped on the Moon, Mr. 
     Armstrong marked the outer limit of the human experiment with 
     those simple words, ``One small step for man. One giant leap 
     for mankind.''
       These men and the other astronauts who came before and 
     after have helped us to step into another world right here on 
     Earth. They've shown us that we can harness the technology of 
     space in areas from the economy to the environment to 
     education to information and technology. The products and 
     knowledge that grew out of our space missions has changed our 
     way of life forever and for the better. And in or quest we 
     have relearned a sense of confidence that has always been an 
     essential ingredient of our American Dream.
       Today that journey continues. Our commitment to the space 
     program is strong and unwavering. The best way to honor these 
     men and all the others who have helped it so much, is to 
     continue that quest. Many have risked their lives and some 
     have given their lives so that we could go forward.
       Today I ask that we remember, especially, the crews of 
     Apollo 1 and the Challenger. On this day of celebration we 
     must never forget the deep debt we owe to those brave 
     Americans. And our thoughts should also be with their 
     families and their loved ones for the sacrifice they have 
     given helped to bring us all to new horizons.
       Our space explorations today are important models for 
     cooperation in the new post-Cold War world. The Vice 
     President described that eloquently a moment ago. Sergei's 
     mission was an important first step toward full Russian 
     partnership in what must be our next great mission, the 
     international Space Station.
       This permanent orbiting space laboratory, to be built with 
     help from 14 nations, will hasten discoveries in fields from 
     the environment to medicine, to computers. We should also 
     remember that the space station holds great promise for us 
     here at home, as it strengthens our largest export sector, 
     aerospace technology.
       All these reasons explain why the House has fully funded 
     already the Space Station. I want to thank many people who 
     are responsible for that bipartisan victory but let me 
     mention especially George Brown, Lou Stokes, Bob Walker, and 
     Jerry Lewis. I know the Vice President and Dan Goldin and a 
     lot of other people burned up the phone lines before the 
     House vote.
       Let me say that we've fought a lot of battles for the 
     future around here in the last 18 months, and sometimes it 
     seems that the most important ones are decided by the 
     narrowest of margins. The economic plan passed by a vote, the 
     assault weapons ban passed by two votes. Last year the Space 
     Station survived by the vote of a single member of the House 
     of Representatives who changed his mind on the way down the 
     aisle. But this year, thanks to the common endeavors of all 
     of us and thanks to the promise of cooperation with Russia 
     and with other nations, the House of Representatives voted to 
     fund the Space Station by 122 votes, a bipartisan commitment 
     to America's future. (Applause.)
       I thank the members of the Senate who are here today who 
     are pushing for passage. I know they won't miss this great 
     opportunity which is coming on them very soon. I thank you, 
     Senator Mikulski, and all the other members of the Senate who 
     are here for the work that will be done in the Senate.
       As we work together building a better world, we also have 
     to preserve the one we've got here. William Anders of the 
     Apollo 8 was the first to see the entire Earth at a glance. 
     He said it looked like a fragile ``little Christmas tree 
     ornament against an infinite backdrop of space, the only 
     color in the whole universe we could see. It seemed so very 
     finite.''
       Well, because we are so very finite our responsibility to 
     our planet must not be limited. That's why NASA's ``Mission 
     to Planet Earth'' is also a very important part of our future 
     in space. We have to continue to monitor the global 
     environment from space and to act on what we learn.
       Above all, let us never forget that all this work is about 
     renewing our hopes and the hopes of generations to come. 
     About the ability of Americans and the ability of human 
     beings everywhere to conquer the seemingly impossible. I 
     don't think anybody can look at the faces of these young 
     people here with us today, and we ought to take a little 
     while and look at them and welcome them here, without seeing 
     again in their eyes dreams that those of us who are older 
     could not have dreamed.
       The explorations we continue in space are clear evidence to 
     them that they will grow up in exciting times without limits. 
     Times that demand their imagination, their vision, their 
     courage. Times that will reward them, too, for believing in 
     themselves and their possibilities.
       One of our Young Astronauts, 13 year old Wayne Gusman from 
     New Orleans, sees a future where being an astronaut will be 
     like, and I quote, ``driving a car; everyone will do it.''
       That's a great dream. But that and our other dreams are 
     clearly the natural extensions of the space program which 
     began a generation ago, the direct descendants of the dreams 
     of the three men we are here to honor today. We can get 
     there.
       No one who was alive then will ever forget where they were 
     as Michael Collins traveled his solitary vigil around the 
     Moon and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed that tiny 
     craft on the surface. The world was captivated not only by 
     the risk and the daring, although they were risking and 
     daring, they were captivated because the landing meant again 
     that the human experiment in conquering new and uncharted 
     worlds was reborn.
       In that sense it was not an end but a beginning. So, to 
     you, gentlemen, we say for your valor, your courage, your 
     pioneering spirit, and for being here today to remind us 
     again that all things are possible, we are deeply in your 
     debt. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

  Mr. GLENN. The statement indicates the President's support for the 
ongoing program of the space station that is going to be an 
international program form now on. In the early days of the space 
program, we were much concerned with the space race. ``The Russians are 
coming, the Russians are coming.'' We were very afraid that we were 
going to get outdone. Today, the Russians are coming again, but they 
are coming to cooperate on the space station. I think that is very 
notable. Along with the Russians will be the Euro space group, the 
Japanese, and the Canadians, who are making some of the equipment. It 
will truly be an international space center to do the research that is 
a benefit to everybody right here on Earth. I wanted to make note of 
that today and enter the President's remarks in the Record.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. BURNS. Madam President, I would like to associate my statement 
within the context of the remarks of the Senator from Ohio and also 
acknowledge him and his contribution to the space program. I also serve 
on the Subcommittee on Science and Technology and NASA, and after 
working on that committee, you understand and appreciate the great 
dedication that these men and women have had in NASA to attain what I 
think are great, great fetes in space. I acknowledge his contribution 
to that and thank him for that.
  I yield the floor.

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