[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 8, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H4535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SPACE STATION IS THE WORLD'S GATEWAY TO SPACE

  (Mr. WELDON of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Congress will once again this 
week have an opportunity to support the International Space Station 
Program.
  This is an exciting project, Mr. Speaker, and not just because of the 
tremendous science capability of the space station, nor just because it 
is the largest cooperative international science project in history, 
and not just because of the inspiration it will bring to the children 
of our world.
  Mr. Speaker, any one of these reasons are exciting enough to stand on 
their own merit, but I want to tell you about another exciting aspect 
of the Space Station Program.
  The space station represents our first permanent step into the 
unknown. This is our Nation's foremost exploration program, and it 
holds unimaginable opportunities for exploring our last frontier.
  Throughout history, nations that cease to explore and expand their 
civilization eventually perish, and we must not let our Nation go down 
that path.
  Support our future. Support the space station.

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