[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE ``CHALLENGER'' ACCIDENT

                                 ______


                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 1996

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, the names 
Onizuka, McAuliffe, Jarvis, Resnik, Smith, Scobee, and McNair became a 
part of this Nation's history. Ten years ago those seven individuals 
lost their lives in the service for both their country and mankind. 
Their tragic loss touched us all very deeply and has left an indelible 
mark on the national psyche of this country.
  Today, I pay tribute to those seven men and women in a small way by 
recognizing their bravery and the memory of their contributions to not 
only the lives of their friends and family, but to the whole of 
humanity. These individuals represent the best in all of us and it is 
in their memory that we should devote ourselves to continuing what they 
began.
  Humans have always possessed an inherent drive to explore and expand 
their boundaries. Our exploration of space has been important for more 
reasons than the technological advances and resulting benefits to 
society; it represents an undeniable part of us all. From the 
beginning, this country has recognized the importance of space and 
always taken a leading role in its development and investigation. While 
inundated with more earthly concerns such as budget deficits, crime, 
and international peace, it is often easy to forget our commitment to 
the enterprise of space and its value to the United States and the 
international community. In remembering the Challenger, let us also 
take a minute to recall the purpose for which its crew was dedicated.
  Let me also thank the families of these American heroes for their 
continued support of the space program and the efforts to which the 
Challenger Seven dedicated their lives. Nothing we say here today can 
adequately repay the debt that is owed, or sufficiently express the 
feelings of sorrow that are universally felt. We can, however, pay 
those seven souls no greater tribute than to carry on the work in which 
they believed in and for which they paid the ultimate sacrifice for. It 
is important that we properly fund this dynamic work for the 21st 
century and insure that America remains first in space exploration.

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