[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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