[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 13, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H3990-H3993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEBRIS COLLECTION
EFFORT FOLLOWING THE SPACE SHUTTLE ``COLUMBIA'' ACCIDENT
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 222) commending those individuals who
contributed to the debris collection effort following the Space Shuttle
Columbia accident
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 222
Whereas on February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia and
its crew of seven heroic astronauts were lost in a tragic
accident;
Whereas the breakup of Columbia scattered debris over a
large area of Texas, as well as Louisiana, Nevada,
California, and possibly other States;
Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency was
designated the lead agency for directing other Federal
agencies in the recovery of the Space Shuttle Columbia
debris;
Whereas personnel from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
the United States Forest Service, the Environmental
Protection Agency, and other agencies assisted in the
recovery of the Columbia debris;
Whereas personnel from State and local agencies assisted in
the recovery of the Columbia debris;
Whereas many citizens, including National Aeronautics and
Space Administration contractor personnel from multiple
States, volunteered their time to assist in the recovery of
the Columbia debris;
Whereas two searchers perished and three others were
injured in a helicopter crash while searching for Columbia
debris;
Whereas citizens of eastern Texas offered their whole-
hearted support, both physical and emotional, to the debris
search teams; and
Whereas the combined efforts of all of these individuals
and organizations resulted in the collection of more than
seventy thousand pieces of debris, far more than was
[[Page H3991]]
originally thought possible, providing accident investigators
with vital evidence that will assist in determining the cause
of the accident: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives does offer its
gratitude on behalf of the American people to the thousands
of individuals who worked tirelessly to recover the Space
Shuttle Columbia debris.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Burgess) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).
General Leave
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, the morning of February 1 was a tragic day for our
space program, our Nation, and the world when the Space Shuttle
Columbia broke apart upon re-entry over the skies of Texas.
Our Nation and our Congress have honored the memory of the seven
astronauts who gave the last full measure of devotion to the cause of
space exploration, and we pay our respects to the families of those
affected by the tragedy.
Today, with this resolution, we honor over 20,000 Americans who
worked long hours over the past several months under difficult weather
and terrain conditions to find the remains of the Columbia crew and
scattered pieces of the space shuttle. In a painstaking search over
680,000 acres, the search teams recovered over 83,000 pieces of the
shuttle in order to piece together a puzzle and find answers for what
went terribly wrong that morning.
This resolution honors the great Americans from NASA, the Department
of Homeland Security, FEMA, the EPA, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, the Department of Defense, the Department of
Transportation, the United States Forest Service, the Park Service, the
Texas National Guard, Louisiana National Guard, fire crews from 42
States, State and local authorities, as well as many farmers, land
owners, and citizens who helped locate, document, and pick up the
pieces over the past several months.
Over 20,000 Americans from over 130 Federal, State and local agencies
came together as a team for this noble effort, walking their specific
search grids. Their selfless acts of dedication and generosity honored
the memory of the Space Shuttle Columbia crew and greatly aided the
Columbia Accident Investigation Board. The search teams endured snow
and ice storms as well as brambles and swamps in their search.
We especially honor the pilot and Forest Service Ranger who lost
their lives in a helicopter crash while searching for material in the
Angelina National Forest in east Texas on March 27 of this year.
To quote President Bush in honoring the crew of the Space Shuttle
Columbia, ``This cause of exploration and discovery is not an option we
choose; it is a desire written in the human heart. We are that part of
creation which seeks to understand all creation. We find the best among
us, send them forth into unmapped darkness, and pray they will return.
They go in peace for all mankind, and all mankind is in their debt.''
Likewise, all mankind is in the debt of the search and recovery teams
for their noble effort and sacrifice. Thus, the House of
Representatives offers its gratitude on behalf of the American people
and to the thousands of individuals who worked tirelessly to recover
the Space Shuttle Columbia.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might
consume.
Of course, as has been pointed out very aptly by the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Burgess), our country suffered a major tragedy on February
1, 2003. Of course, that was the day that the sky over my home State of
Texas was filled with fiery debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia. We
all mourn the loss of the seven brave men and women who perished that
day, and will never forget their sacrifice. They made the ultimate
sacrifices in the cause of space exploration and, of course, in the
cause of science.
In the weeks and months since the loss of Columbia and its crew, the
focus has been on finding the cause of the accident, not to place blame
but to prevent future tragedy. Examination of shuttle debris has been a
very important part of that investigation.
We know that it has not been an easy job to collect this. It has been
a tedious job, and it has been day in and day out, long hours. It was
scattered over at least two States with the bulk of it spread over a
wide area of my home State of Texas. Yet within hours of the accident,
we had teams of people, men and women, young men and young women, out
scouring the countryside for that debris; and it was a very impressive
effort.
It involved people from a number of Federal agencies, including
personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agencies, from NASA,
from the United States Forest Service, and the EPA among others. It
also involved people from State and local agencies who worked very long
hours, in all kinds of weather; and it also involved citizens from many
States who volunteered their time and volunteered their energy to this
task. We owe all of them our thanks.
We also offer our condolences to those who perished when their
helicopter crashed during the search for debris.
We know, Madam Speaker, and I also want to note, that there is
another aspect of the story that needs to be highlighted, and that is
the heartwarming response of my east Texas friends and my neighbors in
the search in the area who comprised the search teams. There have been
countless examples of folks in Texas opening their homes and hearts to
those who have been engaged in the grueling work of debris recovery,
and I am very proud of all of them.
The concentrated multiagency debris collection effort that was led by
FEMA ended on April 30 when FEMA turned over the responsibilities for
any further collection efforts to NASA. While that effort will
continue, we can take stock of what has been accomplished today. It is
an impressive accomplishment.
Nearly 85,000 pounds of debris, about 38 percent of Columbia's dry
weight, was recovered. That was far more than had been hoped for when
the search began in February. In addition, nearly 83,000 specific items
have been recovered; and more than 79,000 of those have been
identified. Most importantly, the board investigating the Columbia
accident has said that the debris collected so far has been invaluable
in helping them in their efforts to determine the cause of the
accident.
Madam Speaker, I think the Nation owes a debt of gratitude to the
thousands of individuals and organizations who work so tirelessly to
recover the space shuttle debris. I do not personally think that that
search is over because, as my colleagues know, common sense tells us
and our knowledge of history, of weather facts, there is still snow on
the ground in a lot of the area where the shuttle began to come apart.
There are some very deep lakes that because of weather hazards we have
not really been able to search those.
{time} 1530
We need to really wait until that snow vanishes as the summer comes
on, to where we can really look particularly around Fallon, Nevada, in
that area, where a lot of our indications are that the very first major
part of that Shuttle came apart. Then we need to get to the American
people not 10 reasons that might have caused it, but get to the cause
of it, because we have three more shuttles that we want to send up. We
still have to have a presence in space, but we want it to be a safe
presence, we want it to be safe for the men and women who will man
them.
I think it is to be noted that I introduced House Resolution 222 as a
way for this body to express our thanks on behalf of all America. We
have a number of cosigners, and I hope we have more. I think it is the
right thing to do, and I hope my colleagues will support it.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H3992]]
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
After hearing the ranking member's remarks, I am again reminded of
the valuable leadership that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) brings
to the Committee on Science, and the Subcommittee on Space and
Aeronautics in particular. I appreciate his bringing this bill to the
floor for our attention.
Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Smith).
Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the other members
of our Committee on Science, and certainly our chairman, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Boehlert), we commend the adoption of this
resolution.
Two words in the English language are not spoken enough, and these
words are ``thank you.'' With this resolution before us, the House of
Representatives, on behalf of government, on behalf of the American
people, thank the thousands of search and discovery crews who scoured
through thick forests and brambles, dove underwater in freezing lakes
and reservoirs, trudged through swamps in icy temperatures and storms
in search of the bits and pieces left over from the Space Shuttle
Columbia tragedy. It was grim work that lasted many months, and those
who undertook the solemn duty in east Texas and elsewhere deserve our
thanks and praise.
Few things embody the triumph and tragedy that make up the fabric of
our country more than the space program. The space program's very
purpose, to discover what lies beyond our world, is at the heart of the
American spirit. The thousands of Americans who aided in the Columbia
debris search have become a vital part of our Nation's space program.
They allow us to learn what went wrong that fateful morning of February
1 so that we can fix it and forge ahead with a stronger space program
with the best balance between manned and unmanned flight.
With this resolution we honor those who walked more than 700,000
acres on foot, surveyed more than 1.6 million acres in aircraft, and
swept over at least 23 square miles of lakes and reservoirs over the
last several months to find what remained of the Space Shuttle
Columbia. Now the 83,000 pieces of evidence are being shifted through
at Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers and elsewhere, and the Columbia
Accident Investigation Board is beginning to form findings and
recommendations to make our Nation's space program better than it was
before.
Just as the thousands of search crews took it upon themselves to have
a solemn duty, we in Congress will soon be asked to perform our solemn
duty to uphold the values and build on the legacy of the Columbia
astronauts we lost. We have a duty to them, their families, the NASA
family, the search crews, and to everyone who gains so much inspiration
from the drive to discover what exists beyond our world. The lives lost
cannot be in vain.
Today, with this resolution, we honor those who performed their duty.
And to the thousands of men and women who engaged and congregated in
east Texas in search of what remained of mission STS-107, the Space
Shuttle Columbia, we say ``thank you.''
Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the delegate from
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), who is on the Committee on
International Relations, a very important committee.
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, not taking anything away from the
spirit of this important resolution to commend and to honor some 20,000
of our fellow citizens in civilian life, and all who represented local,
State, and Federal agencies who assisted with the collection of debris
and materials of the Space Shuttle Columbia, I certainly want to
commend my good friend, the gentlemen from Texas (Mr. Hall), for
bringing this resolution to the floor for consideration by this body.
Absolutely, we should pay special tribute to our fellow Americans who
assisted with the conduct of searching for the parts of the Columbia
Shuttle. Just last week, the U.S. India Political Action Committee and
the American Jewish Committee provided a special plaque that is now
placed in the National Air and Space Museum commemorating the bravery
of our astronauts who were part of the Space Shuttle Columbia. The
inscription on this plaque that is now in the space museum states: ``In
memory of the astronauts on the Space Shuttle Columbia who came
together from around the world, who gave their lives in the pursuit of
progress for all humanity.''
Madam Speaker, this being the month of May, I was honored last week
to be invited by the President to the White House for his official
proclamation of this month as being the National Asia Pacific Heritage
Month. On behalf of some 12 million Asia Pacific Americans, I want to
touch upon one specific Asian Pacific American. Of course, this tragedy
touched all of us as Americans, but particularly affected were Indian
Americans because they lost the first Indian American astronaut, Dr.
Kalpana Chawla. Along with our Indian American friends, we also lost
six other extraordinary individuals.
Dr. Kalpana Chawla came to symbolize the best amongst us. Born in
Karnal, India, she studied in the United States and received her
doctorate from the University of Colorado. Her life and professional
success symbolizes the success of the Indian American community today
in our country. In serving her adopted country, she demonstrated that
Indian Americans are at the forefront of national achievements.
Again, I just wanted to point that out, again recognizing the bravery
of the astronauts who participated in this Columbia Shuttle. I thank my
good friend from Texas for allowing me to say a few words in support of
this resolution.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), who is the ranking member of the
Subcommittee on Research of the Committee on Science, and my fellow
Congresswoman from the neighboring county of Dallas.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I wish to thank my
leadership and my distinguished colleagues that I am pleased to join
this afternoon to praise the extraordinary individuals who contributed
to the debris collection effort following the Space Shuttle Columbia
accident.
On February 1, 2003, our great Nation was shocked to learn that the
Space Shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven heroic astronauts were
lost in a tragic accident. And although the explosion of the Space
Shuttle Columbia sprinkled debris over much of Southwestern America, a
large portion of that debris was scattered over a large portion of my
home State of Texas.
This resolution honors the personnel from FEMA, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
NASA, and the United States Forest Service, the Environmental
Protection Agency, and other agencies assisting in the recovery of the
Columbia debris. In addition, they were assisted by many, many
volunteer citizens giving their time and effort to help in this
investigation of national importance.
We wish to especially recognize the citizens of east Texas as they
offered their wholehearted support, both physical and emotional, to the
debris search teams. Their combined efforts resulted in the collection
of more than 20,000 pieces of debris, far more than was originally
thought possible, providing accident investigators with vital evidence
that will assist in determining the cause of the accident.
Let it be known that these selfless individuals and their actions are
very much appreciated. Their contributions to collection aided in
continuation of the investigation and further space exploration.
I pledge to do what I can to help our space program recover from this
terrible setback so that these important endeavors can flourish in the
future. And as a senior member of the Committee on Science, I will work
closely with my House colleagues to assist NASA and Harold Gehman, Jr.,
who leads the special investigation commission.
Madam Speaker, I will end by simply saying that the best way to show
our appreciation for these heroes is to continue this research and be a
visionary
[[Page H3993]]
for our future, because we know that without vision, people perish.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Green), a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and
a long-time supporter of NASA, being from the Houston area.
Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the
resolution of my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall).
Human space flight is America's ultimate commitment to scientific
exploration and research, and astronauts receive and deserve the most
glory because they take the ultimate risk, as we know from the Columbia
and the crew of Apollo 1, and the Challenger. They all made the
ultimate sacrifice.
It is interesting, this resolution, because yesterday I had the
opportunity in my district to visit three middle schools, Hambrick
Middle School in Aldine ISP, Patrick Henry and Stevenson Middle Schools
in the Houston Independent School District, with NASA astronaut
Franklin Chang Diaz to encourage our young children to pursue careers
in math and science and engineering so they can get great jobs and
maybe even work for NASA one day. This is a great experience. I have
been able to do that for a number of years with the astronauts in our
community, because space exploration is not just the here and now, it
is the future.
That is why this resolution, I think, is so important because it does
look into the future. To get our Space Shuttles back into orbit, we
need to know what went wrong and how to fix it. To do this, 30,000
people from local, State, and Federal agencies participated in the
search for debris from the Columbia to try to piece together what
happened. These efforts resulted in 82,000 pieces weighing 80,000
pounds, when workers covered 1.6 million acres on the ground and in the
air. Importantly, many wing pieces, tiles, and the flight data box have
been recovered and are being analyzed by NASA engineers right now.
Amazingly, with the tremendous efforts of the search parties, five of
the nine experiments aboard Columbia have been recovered, including one
experiment developing cancer treatment drugs.
{time} 1545
I would like to close by noting that the Federal Emergency Management
Agency is assuming most of the $300 million tab on this important
operation; $1.2 million will reimburse Texas for the over-900 Texas
National Guard personnel who participated.
I urge my colleagues to remember the expense needed for human space
flight when we consider NASA's funding later this year. Shuttle
maintenance and safety requirements are the highest priority. We need
to take the lessons learned from the Columbia recovery search to heart
and put them into practice. Again, I thank the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Hall) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) and urge my
colleagues to suspend the rules and pass this resolution.
Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I urge the passage of this resolution. I thank the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Burgess) for his participation and his support. He is a man
of medicine and a very valuable member of the Committee on Science. I
thank him for his input and will expect and appreciate his support of
this resolution which I know is coming.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Capito). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 222.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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