[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 78 (Tuesday, June 20, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H4714-H4719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1500
CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO ASTRONAUTS NEIL A. ARMSTRONG, BUZZ ALDRIN, 
                          AND MICHAEL COLLINS.

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2815) to present a congressional gold medal to astronauts 
Neil A. Armstrong. Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, the crew of Apollo 
11.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2815

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, as commander of Apollo 11, 
     achieved the historic accomplishment of piloting the Lunar 
     Module ``Eagle'' to the surface of the Moon, and became the 
     first person to walk upon the Moon on July 20, 1969.
       (2) Astronaut Buzz Aldrin joined Neil A. Armstrong in 
     piloting the Lunar Module ``Eagle'' to the surface of the 
     Moon, and became the second person to walk upon the Moon on 
     July 20, 1969.
       (3) Astronaut Michael Collins provided critical assistance 
     to his fellow astronauts that landed on the Moon by piloting 
     the Command Module ``Columbia'' in the Moon's orbit and 
     communicating with Earth, thereby allowing his fellow Apollo 
     11 astronauts to successfully complete their mission on the 
     surface of the Moon.
       (4) By conquering the Moon at great personal risk to their 
     safety, the three Apollo 11 astronauts advanced America 
     scientifically and technologically, paving the way for future 
     missions to other regions in space.
       (5) The Apollo 11 astronauts, by and through their historic 
     feat, united the country in favor of continued space 
     exploration and research.

     SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Presentation Authorized.--The President is authorized 
     to present, on behalf of the Congress, gold medals of 
     appropriate design to astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Buzz 
     Aldrin, and Michael Collins, in recognition of their 
     monumental and unprecedented feat of space exploration, as 
     well as their achievements in the advancement of science and 
     promotion of the space program.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose of the 
     presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of 
     the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
     ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with suitable 
     emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the 
     Secretary.

     SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

       Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the 
     Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the 
     gold medal struck under section 2 at a price sufficient to 
     cover the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, 
     dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

       The medals struck under this Act are national medals for 
     purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

[[Page H4715]]

     SEC. 5. PROCEEDS OF SALE.

       Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals 
     under section 3 shall be deposited in the United States Mint 
     Public Enterprise Fund.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) and the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. LaFalce) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus).
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. BACHUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, on a clear sunny Wednesday in July 1969, the 
first human journey to the surface of the moon began at Launch Complex 
39 of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. With the liftoff of Apollo 
11, Commander Neil Armstrong, Commander Module Pilot Michael Collins, 
and Buzz Aldrin were about to make history.
  These three men accomplished what others had been dreaming about for 
centuries and what President John F. Kennedy declared was a national 
priority during the height of the Cold War. In response to the Soviet 
Union's stunning surprise with the first manned flight into space, the 
Americans astonished the world by surpassing the Soviet Union's space 
program in a few short years. This accomplishment demonstrates the 
greatness of the American spirit, one based on free enterprise, 
determination and patriotism.
  Mr. Speaker, we should have honored these three men years ago. It has 
been over 30 years ago since this accomplishment.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Rogan), and I want to commend him at this time as 
the sponsor, the originator, of this legislation to honor the Apollo 11 
astronauts. I would like to thank him on behalf of the entire House for 
bringing this legislation forward.
  Mr. ROGAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank first my good friend from Alabama, 
the distinguished subcommittee chair, for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I was 11 years old on July 20, 1969. For anybody of my 
generation, particularly who was a young person on that date, and who 
can remember, as I do, sitting in front of a somewhat flickering black 
and white television to see the grainy image of a human being coming 
down the ladder of the lunar module and setting foot on the moon, that 
was an incredible moment, not just in our Nation's history but in the 
history of all mankind. Because Americans were the ones to first do 
what people for generations and for centuries and for a millennia had 
merely dreamed about: Setting foot on the surface of another celestial 
body.
  As the distinguished subcommittee chairman noted, this is about 30 
years too late. The Congress of the United States, in 1969, should have 
taken the step of awarding these three heroes, these three explorers, 
these three great patriots Congress' highest award, the Congressional 
Gold Medal, and the time has come to recognize these three 
extraordinary individuals, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael 
Collins with this honor. Together, these three pioneers propelled 
America ahead in the space race. They united a country and a Nation and 
a world torn in conflict, and inspired future generations to continue 
the pursuit of space exploration.
  Who were these men that did this monumental feat? Neil Armstrong was 
born on August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He received his bachelor's 
degree in aeronautical engineering at Purdue and a master's degree at 
USC.
  Neil made seven flights in the X-15 program, reaching an altitude of 
over 207,500 feet. He was then the backup command pilot for Gemini 5. 
He was the command pilot for Gemini 8. He was the backup command pilot 
for Gemini 11 and the backup commander for Apollo 8. And, finally, the 
reason we are here today, he was the commander of the epic Apollo 11 
flight on that day in July, 1969.
  Following the mission, Neil worked as Deputy Associate Administrator 
for Aeronautics at NASA. He then became professor of aeronautical 
engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He served on the National 
Commission on Space from 1985 to 1986, and on the Presidential 
Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident in 1986.
  Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, was born in 1930 in 
Montclair, New Jersey. He received his bachelor's degree at the U.S. 
Military Academy in 1951 and a Ph.D. in astronautics at MIT in 1963. 
Buzz's study of astronautics contributed to the perfection of space 
walking.
  His spaceflights included also piloting a Gemini 12 mission in 1966, 
and piloting the Apollo 11 lunar module in 1969. Buzz was backup pilot 
for Gemini 9 and backup command module pilot for Apollo 8.
  He resigned from NASA in 1971 to become Commandant of the Aerospace 
Research Pilot's School at Edwards Air Force Base.
  Buzz retired from the Air Force in 1972 and became a consultant. 
Currently he resides in Southern California and lectures and consults 
on space sciences with Starcraft Enterprises. He has authored two 
books, Return to Earth and Men From Earth.
  The third member of that historic mission, Michael Collins, was born 
in 1930 in Rome, Italy. He received his bachelor's degree at the U.S. 
Military Academy in 1952.
  He piloted the Gemini 10 space flight in 1966. He served as a command 
module pilot for Apollo 11 in July 1969. Mike also served as backup 
pilot for Gemini 7 and pilot for Gemini 10. He had been assigned to 
Apollo 8 but was removed to undergo surgery.
  He resigned from NASA in 1970 and was appointed Assistant Secretary 
of State for Public Affairs. In 1971, he became Director of the 
National Air and Space Museum here in Washington, and became Under 
Secretary of the Smithsonian in April 1978.
  Mike retired from the Air Force with the rank of Major General. He 
later became vice president of the Vought Corporation. He currently 
heads Michael Collins Associates, a Washington, D.C. consulting firm.
  Mr. Speaker, I never dreamed that 31 years ago, as a young boy 
watching that flickering screen at my Great Aunt Della's house, that I 
would have the incredible privilege of serving as a Member of this body 
and sponsoring legislation for our Nation and our Congress to recognize 
the contribution of these three great heroes. They are Columbus, 
Galileo, and Lindbergh all rolled into three, the three pilots of 
Apollo 11. They served our country, they served the cause of peace, and 
the spinoffs in technology that emanated from that massive Apollo 
program are being felt every day today in our country, in biotech, in 
medicine, in health care, in computers. The list goes on and on.
  We owe it all to the men and women who put their time and their 
efforts and their belief into our space program, and that is symbolized 
in the person of the three men who boarded Apollo 11 on that day, 
almost 31 years ago, soared off into space, and did as Neil Armstrong 
proudly proclaimed from the moon, made one small step for man and one 
giant leap for mankind.
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives would honor with a 
Congressional Gold Medal to three American heroes, Neil Armstrong, Buzz 
Aldrin, and Michael Collins, the crew of Apollo 11. Together, these 
three astronauts conquered territory that countless generations of 
astronomers and philosophers gazed at from afar but considered 
unconquerable; the surface of Earth's only satellite, the Moon.
  On July 20, 1969, President Kennedy's dream of seeing American 
astronauts exploring the moon became a reality when the brave 
groundbreaking crew of Apollo 11 landed on the moon's surface and 
proclaimed to a spellbound America, in the words of Neil Armstrong, 
``One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'' By awarding 
them with a Congressional Medal, we honor their bravery and valor and 
their major contributions to humankind's greatest technological 
achievement: sending humans into outer space to set foot on a celestial 
body outside Earth.
  The Apollo 11 landing ushered in a new era of space exploration, 
thereby contributing to the advancement of scientific inquiry and the 
improvement of the human condition. We owe much of NASA's and the 
United States' space program's current success to the pioneering 
efforts of the Apollo 11 crew.

[[Page H4716]]

Our now routine space shuttle flights and the scientific experiments in 
weightlessness that they have facilitated are a direct outgrowth of the 
Apollo 11 mission to the Moon.
  Many of us recall that July day in 1969, when the Apollo 11 crew 
mesmerized the Nation and the world as they took that historic leap for 
humankind. As the entire Nation watched their television sets in 
amazement, the Apollo 11 crew undertook their simple mission of 
performing a manned lunar landing, collecting lunar samples, and 
returning to Earth with utmost professionalism and care. It was a 
greater success than anyone could have hoped for, not to mention a 
major milestone in human history. And the successful mission will 
forever remain etched in our collective conscience as a national symbol 
of our unity.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this long overdue honor to the crew 
of Apollo 11, three great American heroes who will forever remind us of 
the greatness of our country's pioneering spirit.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Kuykendall), who has in his district the headquarters 
of the U.S. Space and Missile System Command.
  Mr. KUYKENDALL. Mr. Speaker, I, like one of the earlier speakers, can 
sit back and remember what I was doing that night. For me, it was in 
the evening, as I recall, and I remember laying on the floor over at my 
girlfriend's apartment. She and her mother were sitting there; and we 
were watching that on television, watching these three pioneers, three 
people that nobody really knew who they were other than they were 
astronauts. But here we were watching on TV what they were doing, 
landing on the moon. I remember I was almost more astounded at the fact 
that I could watch them do it than I was that we technologically had 
figured out how to send them there and bring them back in one piece.
  That was during a time of strife in our Nation. In my case, I was en 
route to Vietnam. Yet here was an action taken by three heroes who 
stepped up, and when they made that trip the whole country could focus 
on them. The whole country could. It did not make any difference 
whether a person was for or against that war, or whether they were 
involved in college or whether they were a little kid or an elderly 
member of our society, everybody watched. Everybody did.
  We all remember what we were doing that night, what we were doing 
when these three men soared away and they stepped down off of that 
module and we could see the dust kind of kick up from his steps on the 
moon. There are footprints up there that will be there for eternity 
because of what these three men did. I think we all will remember that 
as probably the most important thing many of us have ever watched on 
TV.
  We soared above any strife we had in our country, and that was the 
power of that mission. Not only did we prove our dominance to the 
world, as far as technologically being able to accomplish it, but we 
proved to ourselves as a Nation that, even in the midst of this 
terrible war we were in, we could coalesce behind a cause that would 
better this place we live in and expand our horizons as Americans to 
look for in the future.
  I am pleased to be here supporting and recognizing their actions. 
This is one of the best things we can do as a country.
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Lampson).
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time, and I rise today in support of H.R. 2815, a bill to award the 
Congressional Gold Medal to Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael 
Collins, the crew of Apollo 11.
  When a young president named John Kennedy described his vision in 
1961 of landing a man on the moon, he encountered many skeptics. Some 
said it could not be done; others said it would cost too much money. 
But when I watched Neil Armstrong take his first step on the moon 8 
years later, I knew that the naysayers were wrong, and so did my high 
school students, who huddled around that television set we have heard 
about on that unforgettable day.

                              {time}  1515

  I saw the gleam in their eyes that inspired them to become our future 
engineers and scientists.
  The Apollo 11 lunar landing is one of the events in American history 
that stands out as a moment that connects every American who was alive 
in July of 1969. Six hours after landing on the surface of the moon on 
July 20, with less than 30 seconds of fuel remaining, Commander Neil 
Armstrong took the ``one small step for man, one giant leap for 
mankind'' when he stepped off the lunar module onto the surface of the 
Moon.
  Minutes later, joined by Buzz Aldrin, the two astronauts spent a 
total of 21 hours on the lunar surface. After their historic walk on 
the Moon, they successfully docked their lunar module with the command 
module, piloted by fellow astronaut Michael Collins, who made the 
mission possible by providing the crucial communications link between 
the Moon and the Earth.
  Public opinion polls, the universal tool of politics today, tell us 
that the lunar landings are seen by Americans as one of the greatest 
achievements during that century, on the level of winning World War II. 
Together, these men propelled America ahead in the space race, united a 
country torn over the conflict in Vietnam, and inspired future 
generations to continue the pursuit of space exploration.
  The time has come to recognize these three extraordinary individuals, 
Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, with the 
Congressional Gold Medal. And here we are, 31 years after Apollo 11, 
nearing the completion of the construction of the International Space 
Station, having seen a remarkable record of NASA accomplishments, the 
first space plane, the space shuttle, capable of carrying a crew and 
payload into space to do research, new wing designs for civilian 
aircraft, a revolution in Earth science as we have begun to recognize 
the need to understand the changes occurring in the Earth's lands and 
oceans and atmosphere and new views of the universe.
  Space exploration has evolved over the past 30 years to more than 
just romantic notions of collecting Moon rocks and taking pictures of 
other planets in our solar system, and now is the time to award a 
Congressional Medal to three individuals who contributed to our 
Nation's knowledge of space.
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on July 20, 1969, after a 4-day trip, the three Apollo 
astronauts arrived on the surface of the Moon. Upon arriving, Armstrong 
announced ``Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.''
  These words ushered in a new era of human exploration as the first 
man flight to the Moon touched down with less than 40 seconds of fuel 
remaining in its tanks. The astronauts had managed to make one last-
minute maneuver to avoid landing on a field of boulders and a large 
crater, demonstrating the importance of manned space flight, the human 
ability to adapt to demanding circumstances.
  After hours of exploring and experiments and those famous words ``one 
small step for man, one giant leap for mankind'' uttered by Neil 
Armstrong, the astronauts left a plaque stating: ``Here men from the 
planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969, A.D. We came in 
peace for all mankind.'' The plaque was signed by Armstrong, Collins, 
Aldrin, and President Richard Nixon.
  The final phase of President Kennedy's challenge was realized on July 
24, 1969, when these three astronauts safely returned to Earth, 
splashing down aboard the Columbia, 812 nautical miles southwest of 
Hawaii. Prior to splashdown, Buzz Aldrin summarized their magnificent 
accomplishments with these words: ``We feel this stands as a symbol of 
the insatiable curiosity of all mankind to explore the unknown.''
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Weldon), my good friend.
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me the time.

[[Page H4717]]

  Mr. Speaker, I commend the author of this piece of legislation, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Rogan).
  Landing on the Moon has been considered to be the crowning 
achievement of the 20th century. I am proud to say that, in my 
congressional district, Kennedy Space Center was the departure point 
for this incredible adventure.
  On July 20, 1969, the culmination of man's dream to go to the Moon 
was realized. For the first time, people were taking their first steps 
on a new world. America led the way and showed the world how a republic 
can harness its power for scientific and peaceful purposes.
  Thirty years ago, American know-how and technology and its 
technological might was demonstrated in a way that benefited every 
human on the planet. Thirty years ago, we aimed higher than ever and 
accomplished that goal.
  The names Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, and Neil Armstrong will 
forever be etched in the edifice of human history next to the names of 
Columbus and Lindbergh.
  We all know by heart the phrases oft repeated this afternoon, ``The 
Eagle has landed'' and ``That's one small step for man, one giant leap 
for mankind.''
  Every one of us who was of age at the time can recite to our children 
and grandchildren where we were at that historic moment. The magic of 
television helped take the whole world on that most fantastic of 
voyages. We all thought that by now, in the year 2000, we would have 
bases on the Moon and people on Mars. Sadly, we are not at that point.
  And it is even more sad that today we will be taking up the funding 
bill for NASA, the VA-HUD bill, and there will again be attempts by 
some to cut our investment in the space program, keeping us further 
bound here on Earth.
  Our efforts into space have an uncanny ability to unite all peoples 
and excite the imagination like nothing else, particularly the 
imagination of our young people. We should be proud of our space 
program and continue to support it to the fullest extent possible, 
supporting this effort to award these three historic pioneers in this 
very, very appropriate way.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Portman).
  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the chairman, for 
yielding me the time. I want to also congratulate the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rogan), my friend, for moving forward with this 
important legislation to finally present our Apollo 11 astronauts Neil 
Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins with a much deserved 
Congressional Gold Medal.
  I am particularly interested in this legislation because it involves 
a constituent of mine, a friend of mine and a neighbor of mine, Neil 
Armstrong, who inspired all of us by becoming the first person to set 
foot on the Moon.
  Facing tremendous personal risks and very difficult technological 
challenges, Neil Armstrong and his fellow astronauts left an indelible 
impression on those of us on Earth. And the Apollo mission will 
certainly go down as one of the most memorable achievements of the 20th 
century.
  I certainly remember it. I was a 13-year-old exchange student living 
with a family outside of Malmo, Sweden. We all crowded around a TV set 
in an apartment complex outside of Malmo that night. I was the only 
American in the apartment complex. But we all watched it, as citizens 
of the world, to watch that memorable mission. And the success of it 
when we heard ``the Eagle has landed'' was the cause for celebration 
and applause. I remember it well.
  Neil Armstrong has certainly compiled a remarkable record of legacy 
of service to our Nation as a fighter pilot, as an astronaut, a test 
pilot, a NASA official, a scientist, a teacher, and now a successful 
businessman. And although his name has been forever linked with that 
historic Apollo 11 mission and his famous words announcing ``a giant 
leap for mankind,'' Neil Armstrong has never sought the limelight and 
he has never exploited his fame for personal gain.
  Instead, he has quietly and effectively found ways to give back to 
others. He has helped NASA in their space program. He has worked with 
another famous Cincinnatian, Dr. Henry Heimlich, to develop a miniature 
heart-lung machine, the forerunner of the modern Micro Trach machine 
that is used to deliver oxygen to patients.
  He has become a civic leader in greater Cincinnati, including 
enriching our community as chairman of the board of the Cincinnati 
Museum of Natural History, where he led the successful effort to give 
the museum a rebirth in its new home at our Union Terminal.
  Neil also owns a small farm in Warren County, Ohio, outside of 
Cincinnati; and there he has been an active participant in civic 
activities. He has assisted with the annual Warren County Fair 
livestock auctions to support local 4-H programs. He has participated 
in local Boy Scouts troops. He has worked with other community leaders 
to establish an impressive YMCA, called the Countryside YMCA, outside 
of Lebanon, Ohio. And, yes, he has even helped coach the high school 
football team. This is the Neil Armstrong I know.
  Neil Armstrong and the brave men of Apollo 11 deserve this special 
congressional recognition for the remarkable accomplishments over 30 
years ago and their amazing legacy that inspires future generations.
  My constituent, Neil Armstrong, also deserves recognition for his 
continued efforts to make our world a better place.
  I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Bachus) for yielding the time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an excellent example of bipartisan cooperation. 
I want to congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Rogan) for 
introducing this resolution.
  I rise today in support of the resolution to honor three American 
heroes with the Congressional Gold Medal: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, 
and Michael Collins. They inspired a generation of Americans, and their 
accomplishment continues to stand as a testament to bravery and 
determination.
  ``Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.'' Almost 31 
years ago, these words were uttered and the world was forever changed. 
Just a few minutes later, Neil Armstrong, commander of the Apollo 11 
mission, descended down the ladder of the lunar module and took the 
first step in the powdery surface of the Moon, the first person to walk 
on another world. Shortly after, he was joined on the dusty landscape 
by the mission's lunar module pilot, Edwin Buzz Aldrin.
  The journey began 8 years earlier when President Kennedy issued the 
decree before Congress: ``I believe this Nation should commit itself to 
achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the 
Moon and returning him safely to Earth.''
  America answered the call.
  Among the thousands of dreamers who applied for the handful of 
positions in the newly created astronaut corps were Neil Armstrong, 
Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin. Already brilliant pilots and 
engineers, these men came to NASA to do a job as best they could.
  Neil Armstrong served in 78 combat missions in Korea for the Navy 
before joining NASA in 1955 in the high-speed flight research program. 
He participated in cutting-edge flight tests, pushing the envelope to 
go faster and higher. He was selected in the second group of astronauts 
and commanded the Gemini 8 mission, which first accomplished the task 
of docking with another spacecraft in orbit. The lunar missions would 
have been impossible without the ability to perform this task.

                              {time}  1530

  Buzz Aldrin was also a combat pilot in Korea. He graduated from West 
Point third in his class before receiving his commission in the Air 
Force. He attended MIT, receiving a doctorate after completing his 
thesis concerning guidance for manned orbital rendezvous. He flew as 
the pilot of the Gemini 12 mission, setting the record at the time for 
the longest space walk, testing important mobility characteristics of 
his space suit, essential for future astronauts to walk on the Moon.

[[Page H4718]]

  Michael Collins also graduated from West Point before receiving his 
commission in the Air Force. He was a test pilot at Edwards Air Force 
Base, like Neil Armstrong. He stayed at Edwards as a flight test 
officer until he was selected as an astronaut. He flew on Gemini 10 
which docked with an Agena spacecraft and he successfully used that 
spacecraft's power to maneuver into a higher orbit and rendezvous with 
another Agena target space craft. He also conducted two space walks.
  These three men were already heroes when they were selected to be 
astronauts for the Apollo 11 mission. The dazzling success of Apollo 
8's 10 orbits around the Moon on Christmas the previous year and the 
successful tests of the lunar module in Earth's orbit on Apollo 9 and 
in lunar orbit on Apollo 10 set the stage for the first mission to land 
on the Moon.
  On July 16, 1969, these brave astronauts lifted off the launch pad in 
Florida aboard a Saturn 5 rocket and began the 4-day journey to the 
Moon. On July 20, the lunar module Eagle left Michael Collins behind in 
the command module Columbia and began its descent to the lunar surface. 
Missing the landing site, it took all the courage, determination and 
skill of the astronauts to set the Eagle safely in the ground in the 
Sea of Tranquility with only a few seconds of fuel left.
  It was their ability and their bravery that saw America accomplish 
its dream. The work of thousands of people culminated in those few 
moments of suspense just before the Eagle touched down. Many words can 
be said to express the grandeur of the moment but just a few hours 
later, Neil Armstrong said it best: ``That's one small step for man, 
one giant leap for mankind.'' One small step for men and women, one 
giant leap for people.
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday was Father's Day. 
Yesterday we passed a resolution honoring fatherhood.
  It is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Bentsen) the father of young Meredith Bentsen who is present today.
  (Mr. BENTSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill. I 
can remember 31 years ago at the time that this event occurred, it was 
a typical steamy Saturday afternoon in the summer in Houston. As a 
young boy as we often did on Saturday afternoons, we were at a movie. I 
do not remember the title of the movie. As I recall I think it was 
about a tidal wave hitting an island. Anyway, it was a great action 
film that young boys and girls would like at the time. I can remember 
they stopped the film and they said, ``Apollo 11 has landed on the 
Moon.'' It was the most amazing event for a young boy and my friends 
and I sitting there to see that this had happened. This was the 
crowning event of our childhood, to grow up in Houston with the Johnson 
Space Center right there, and we had all visited it as children in 
school, that this really showed that America could do something if 
America wanted to do something. It was under the guise of NASA but also 
these three astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael 
Collins, who instantly became American heroes, particularly to this 
young Houston boy at that time.
  I want to commend my colleague from California for having the 
foresight to introduce this bill. I am not going to add to what has 
already been said. But as a native Houstonian, I am particularly proud 
to have had the opportunity and now as a Representative for part of 
Houston to be able to speak in favor of this bill and vote in favor of 
it.
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Bachus).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). Without objection, the 
gentleman from Alabama will control 5 additional minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
LaFalce) for yielding me the time. Let me say before I yield that time 
to another speaker that I am wearing a Father's Day gift from my oldest 
son. I am sure my colleagues have been admiring it and his good taste.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Cox) who has in his district Buzz Aldrin as a 
constituent.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I too am pleased to rise in strong support of 
this resolution which will present the Congressional Gold Medal to the 
three astronauts who flew in the historic 1969 Apollo 11 mission. I 
want to congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Rogan) for 
bringing this to the floor and to the attention of the Nation. Those 
three men who first set foot on the Moon's surface and flew to the 
Moon, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, stand out as 
heroes to us now and in even greater relief after the passage of so 
many decades.
  We are now in a new century. We can look back to the events of the 
mid-20th century and see what were the great events and what were the 
minor ones. This is truly an outstanding achievement not only of the 
20th century but of all time. So it is appropriate that we are here 
today to recognize and honor these three American heroes.
  These men were tasked with a mission that was never before attempted 
by men or women. They participated in a space program that was then and 
is now still fraught with danger. My brother-in-law, Mike Gernhardt, is 
an astronaut. I have had the opportunity to watch him go up on the 
space shuttle more than once, and even today that is an extraordinarily 
risky venture. But think what it was like for those first astronauts, 
think what it was like for the Apollo astronauts and those on the 
Apollo 11 mission who were supposed to carry out all that had been 
tested before them.
  They proved to the world that we were still a Nation that when it 
sets its mind to something can do almost anything. With those few 
minutes of videotape, of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin skipping across 
the surface of the Moon and planting the American flag, confidence in 
American ingenuity was reborn. Landing on the Moon may have been an 
American feat, but more than that it was a pioneering event for the 
entire world, an achievement of humanity, and it opened to the entire 
world a whole new realm of possibilities.
  As was mentioned, I have had the privilege of representing Buzz 
Aldrin as a constituent. I would like to say a few words in particular 
about him. Buzz's own life can be best illustrated by his impressive 
resume and his dedication to government service. He was a graduate of 
West Point. He distinguished himself flying combat missions in the 
Korean War. After his military service, he earned an advanced degree 
from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then 
returned to serving his country when he piloted one of the first manned 
rockets into space before joining NASA and the Apollo program.
  Although it is hard to eclipse being one of the first men to set foot 
on the Moon, Buzz has continued to contribute to the advancement of 
space exploration and become a nationally recognized advocate for the 
space program. Even today, he earns national attention for his 
humanitarian efforts and his efforts with Sharespace, an organization 
which advocates human space travel. It is Buzz's notion that we can 
raise money for the space program by letting Americans participate in 
the opportunity to be in space. He is convinced that someday soon, 
sooner than later, that will be a real opportunity for ordinary 
Americans. But it is not just Buzz Aldrin, it is each of these three 
men, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins that deserves the 
recognition that Congress is seeking to bestow upon them today.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation to present 
the Congressional Gold Medal to the three astronauts who flew in the 
historic 1969 Apollo 11 mission.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Today we not only honor the three astronauts, we also honor those 
other heroes at NASA, for their achievement is a tribute to the 
thousands of engineers, scientists and others at NASA whose 
extraordinary efforts made the journey possible. It is fitting that we 
do so this year as we begin both a new century and a new millennium. 
America again faces new and bold challenges both in space and here on 
Earth. As we

[[Page H4719]]

do so, the ingenuity, courage and determination shown by the astronauts 
can be our guide. Their love of freedom and pursuit of knowledge for 
the betterment of all mankind symbolizes the greatness of America.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Rogan), the sponsor of the bill.
  Mr. ROGAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague for yielding 
me this time. I also want to thank the distinguished ranking member and 
all of my colleagues for their support in this most worthy legislation 
and for their comments today.
  We have spent the last few minutes reflecting upon the feat of the 
Apollo 11 astronauts that occurred 31 summers ago. Yet their greatest 
gift to mankind was not the footprints they left behind on the Moon. 
Their greatest gift was what they brought home. They brought home a 
limitless concept of what Americans are capable of doing and a 
limitless potential of what sheer imagination can bring. Their bravery, 
their humility, and their contribution to man has brought unending 
honor to our people and to our Nation. And now it is the day and the 
time for the Congress on behalf of the American people to honor them in 
this most appropriate manner.
  I urge adoption of this resolution. I once again thank both the 
chairman and the ranking member for their graciousness in supporting 
this.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson).
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Buzz Aldrin and I went through 
flying school together. I just want to make that comment. He is a true 
American hero. Probably a little known fact about him is his mother's 
name was Moon. Quite a coincidence. He graduated from West Point with 
honors, third in his class, but just to show how really smart he is, he 
ended up in the Air Force. I could not resist that.
  He is working on a spacecraft system now that would make perpetual 
orbits between Earth and Mars. I hope Members will join me in honoring 
these three American heroes.
  Buzz Aldrin is a true American hero. A perhaps little-known fact 
about Buzz is that his mother's maiden name was Moon. Quite a 
coincidence. But Buzz Aldrin was a great patriot long before he ever 
set foot on the moon!
  He graduated from West Point with honors in 1951, third in his class. 
And to show you just how smart he really is, he ended up in the Air 
Force after West Point.
  I first met Buzz Aldrin when we were in flying school together in 
1951 in Bartow, Florida. And we were sent off to fight in Korea 
together. Buzz flew 66 combat missions in Korea as part of the 51st 
fighter interceptor wing, where he shot down 2 MiG-15s.
  Buzz earned his doctorate in astronautics from the Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology and the manned space rendezvous techniques he 
devised were used on all NASA missions, including the first space 
docking with Russian cosmonauts.
  Buzz was selected as one of NASA's original astronauts in October of 
1963. And on July 20, 1969, the world watched in amazement as Apollo 11 
touched down on the moon and Buzz Aldrin became the 2nd man to set foot 
on another world.
  I was in solitary confinement in a Vietnam prison with no news from 
the outside world. But, Buzz Aldrin, paused to remember me that day. He 
took a POW bracelet with my name on it and an American flag to the moon 
to remember all the prisoners of war in Vietnam. And we will never 
forget that, Buzz.
  You would think that after a man walks on the moon, he could sit down 
and rest for awhile.
  But not Buzz Aldrin. Today, having retired from NASA, from the Air 
Force as a colonel, and from his position as commander of the test 
pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base, he is still working tirelessly 
to ensure a leading role for America in manned space exploration.
  He is working on a spacecraft system that would make perpetual orbits 
between Earth and Mars.
  Buzz has received numerous awards and medals, including the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor our country bestows.
  So, I believe this Congressional Medal of Honor is long overdue for 
my friend Buzz Aldrin and other Apollo 11 astronauts--Neil Armstrong 
and Michael Collins.
  I hope you will join me in honoring these three American heroes.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored and excited to join 
Congressman Jim Rogan and my colleagues today in authorizing the 
President to present astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and 
Michael Collins--the crew of the historic Apollo 11 mission--with a 
congressional gold medal. As a cosponsor of this legislation and as 
Chairman of the House Science Committee, I have observed how these 
three leaders of America's space program continue to inspire 
generations of Americans to dream beyond Earth and entertain the 
infinite possibilities of space exploration.
  I doubt any American alive on that memorable day in late July of 
1969--the 20th to be exact--will ever forget the image of Neil 
Armstrong first stepping foot onto the Lunar surface. Commander 
Armstrong presciently declared, ``That's one small step for man; one 
giant leap for mankind,'' and America and the rest of the world watched 
in awe of the greatest feat in space history.
  These men provided courage and service to the U.S. beyond this 
memorable and daring mission. Mr. Collins co-piloted the Gemini 10 
mission and later served as assistant secretary of state for public 
affairs. Mr. Aldrin flew over 60 combat missions in Korea and survived 
a 5\1/2\ hour space walk on the Gemini 12 mission. Mr. Armstrong left 
NASA in 1971 but continued his service through the National Commission 
on Space and helping lead the presidential commission investigating the 
Challenger explosion.
  Mr. Speaker, these outstanding leaders embody the values, principles, 
and dedication that make our country the greatest in the world. I'm 
proud to join my colleagues in working to recognize Buzz Aldrin, Neil 
Armstrong, and Michael Collins with a congressional gold medal on 
behalf of the Congress and the people of the United States.
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to speak in tribute of 
three of our country's bravest--pioneers who united this nation through 
their heroic feat: the astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission.
  Thirty-one years ago next month, Commander Neil A. Armstrong, Lunar 
Module Pilot Edwin E. ``Buzz'' Aldrin, Jr., and Command Module Pilot 
Michael Collins completed what was an almost unthinkable task: a 
successful manned moon landing. It is often noted that each one of us 
remembers where we were when Neil Armstrong spoke the words, ``The 
Eagle has landed.'' Indeed, a part of each of us traveled with these 
adventurers into space on their record-breaking mission.
  I am especially honored to salute the visionary Neil Armstrong, born 
in Wapakoneta, Ohio, which I am privileged to represent. Wapakoneta 
boasts the recently renovated Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum, 
which has on display various Apollo 11 artifacts, a moon rock, and the 
Gemini 8 spacecraft Armstrong commanded in 1966.
  Mr. Speaker, the accomplishments of these three heroes are too 
numerous to compile. All three had distinguished military flying 
careers prior to their NASA days. All three were part of the monumental 
Gemini program, which saw the first spacewalk by an American and the 
first docking with another space vehicle. In the heart of the space 
race, these pioneers set the stage for today's continuing exploration 
of the new frontier. They conquered the moon despite the many unknown 
dangers of doing so, and thereby paved the way for NASA's space shuttle 
program and the International Space Station. Their bravery has inspired 
thousands of young people around the nation to pursue their hopes and 
dreams.
  Indeed, their bravery cannot be heralded enough. Before the mission, 
Michael Collins commented: ``I think we will escape with our skins . . 
. but I wouldn't give better than even odds on a successful landing and 
return. There are just too many things that can go wrong.'' Despite the 
obstacles and potentially fatal problems, the Apollo 11 astronauts did 
achieve a successful landing and return, bolstering the adventurous 
spirit of all Americans.
  Neil Armstrong once noted, ``We were three individuals who had drawn, 
in a kind of lottery, a momentous opportunity and a momentous 
responsibility.'' Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins fulfilled this 
opportunity with dignity, courage, and honor. It is right that we 
recognize their supreme accomplishment today by presenting them with a 
congressional gold medal in commemoration of their sacrifice. They 
``came in peace for all mankind,'' as reads the plaque they left on the 
moon. Their achievements in the advancement of space exploration have 
revolutionized America, and renewed our sense of unity, pride, and hope 
for the future.

                              {time}  1545

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2815.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.




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