[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 26, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H1355-H1356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H1355]]
RENAMING GUAM SOUTH ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL IN HONOR OF NAVY COMMANDER 
                       WILLIAM ``WILLIE'' McCOOL

  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 672) to rename the Guam South Elementary/Middle School of 
the Department of Defense Domestic Dependents Elementary and Secondary 
Schools System in honor of Navy Commander William ``Willie'' McCool, 
who was the pilot of the Space Shuttle Columbia when it was tragically 
lost on February 1, 2003, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 672

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF COMMANDER WILLIAM C. MCCOOL 
                   ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL, APRA HEIGHTS, GUAM.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Commander William C. McCool of the United States Navy, 
     pilot of the Space Shuttle Columbia when it was tragically 
     lost on February 1, 2003, attended Dededo Middle School and 
     John F. Kennedy High School on Guam.
       (2) Commander McCool carried a flag commemorating the 
     liberation of Guam on NASA mission STS-107 of the Space 
     Shuttle Columbia.
       (3) Commander McCool pursued his dream of space flight with 
     vigor and passion and, by his life and accomplishments, is an 
     inspiration for school children everywhere to dare to dream 
     big things, to believe in themselves, and to reach for the 
     stars.
       (b) Designation.--The Guam South Elementary/Middle School 
     of the Department of Defense Domestic Dependents Elementary 
     and Secondary Schools System in Apra Heights, Guam, shall be 
     known and designated as the ``Commander William C. McCool 
     Elementary/Middle School'', in honor of William C. McCool, 
     who was a commander in the United States Navy and pilot of 
     the Space Shuttle Columbia when it was tragically lost on 
     February 1, 2003.
       (c) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     Guam South Elementary/Middle School shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Commander William C. McCool Elementary/
     Middle School''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Hefley) and the gentlewoman from Guam (MS. Bordallo) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 672, the act to rename 
the Guam South Elementary/Middle School in honor of Navy Commander 
William ``Willie'' McCool, who was pilot of the Space Shuttle Columbia 
when it was tragically lost on February 1, 2003.
  This bill recognizes the intrepid spirit, commitment to public 
service, and the ultimate sacrifice made by Commander McCool. The 
United States space program and our entire Nation lost a highly skilled 
and courageous member of our superb Armed Forces when Commander McCool 
and his fellow astronauts were lost earlier this month. It is entirely 
fitting that as a former student of the Guam South Elementary and 
Secondary Schools System, Commander McCool be remembered by naming the 
Guam South Elementary/Middle School in his honor.
  This measure is a small step in recognizing Commander McCool's 
brilliant career and his selfless dedication to our Nation as well as 
memorializing his spirit at a place where he spent a formative period 
in his youth.
  We can all be proud to support this bill, secure in the knowledge 
that future generations of students can draw inspirations from his 
example. Commander McCool's service represents the very best evidence 
of the long-term commitment to this country to space exploration and it 
reminds us why those who represent us all in space represent the very 
best in America.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 672 to rename the Guam South 
Elementary/Middle School as the Commander William C. McCool Elementary/
Middle School in memory of the pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia on its 
final mission.
  I would like to thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), the 
26 bipartisan cosponsors of this legislation, as well as the leadership 
of the Committee on Armed Services for their assistance in bringing 
this legislation to the floor to coincide with the memorial service for 
Commander McCool being held this week at the U.S. Naval Academy.
  With this act of Congress, I hope that Commander McCool's bravery and 
academic excellence will be permanently affixed in the hearts and minds 
of the children of Guam. Commander McCool lived on Guam while his 
father served as a Navy pilot, and he attended Dededo Middle School and 
John F. Kennedy High School. He was an exceptional student and a 
talented long distance runner.
  He studied hard and earned the opportunity to attend the United 
States Naval Academy, where he graduated second in his class in 1983. 
He went on to receive his Masters of Science in computer science at the 
University of Maryland in 1985. After completing several deployments 
with Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons 129 and 133, Commander 
McCool was accepted into the Naval Postgraduate School/Test Pilot 
School, TPS, in 1989.
  After graduating from TPS in 1992, Commander McCool managed a wide 
range of projects, often coordinating studies and tests of aviation 
vessels with the United States Navy. His distinguished record of 
service led to his selection in NASA's astronaut program in April of 
1996.
  Commander McCool pursued his dream of space flight with vigor and 
passion. He lived his dream, and we on Guam are amazed that someone we 
knew, who was part of our island community, was the pilot of a space 
shuttle. Teachers on Guam point to his remarkable life to inspire 
school children to dare to dream big things, to believe in themselves, 
and to reach for the stars. Today, we are reminded of his dream. We are 
inspired by his strength of character, and we are called to do our part 
to keep his dream alive.
  Guam South is part of the Department of Defense Domestic Dependence 
Elementary and Secondary School System. Commander McCool would be proud 
to be associated with it. The school was established in 1997 and now 
has 750 students. The elementary school is 550 students strong, with 
blue and white as its colors and the Jaguar as its mascot. The middle 
school is 200 students strong, with the Guam South Stingrays as their 
mascot. Guam South is ably run by Principal William Hall and 75 
outstanding teachers.
  The clients of the school are primarily Navy families, just like 
Commander McCool's. Willie McCool was a dedicated husband and father. 
He leaves behind his lovely wife, Lani, and their three sons, Sean, 22; 
Christopher, 20; and Cameron, 15. He is survived by his parents, Barry 
and Audrey McCool, as well as Lani's parents, Atilana and Albert 
Vellejos, who live in Dededo, Guam. They join the families of Rick 
Husband, David Brown, Ilan Ramon, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, and 
Laurel Clark in bearing the burden and the glory of this Nation's space 
aspirations.
  So for all of them and for the future participants of our space 
program studying on Guam, I commend this legislation to my colleagues 
and urge its swift passage.
  I would like to end my remarks by calling for a moment of silence to 
remember the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia on Mission STS-107.
  As we say good-bye to Willie McCool, I would like to point out that 
here he is standing before the shuttle just before leaving with our 
island flag. Pues adios, Willie; in guaiya hao. In our Chamorro 
language this means good-bye, Willie; we love you.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H1356]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Flake). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 672, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________