[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 28, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S321-S322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. HUTCHISON (for herself and Mr. Cornyn):
  S. 2034. To establish 3 memorials to the Space Shuttle Columbia in 
the State of Texas; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, today in honor of the memory and 
sacrifice of seven astronauts whose lives were tragically cut short one 
year ago in the destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia, I bring to 
the floor a bill to authorize the construction of several memorials in 
communities that were severely effected by the event.
  This bill authorizes $5 million to be used in communities along the 
Space Shuttle Columbia Recovery Corridor: specifically, Lufkin, 
Hemphill, and Nacogdoches, TX. Each of these communities have started 
work with NASA to memorialize the disaster and the indomitable spirit 
of adventure and courage, the spirit that defies complacency and 
accepts challenge, the spirit that each of these astronauts, and each 
of these communities showed.
  This spirit of adventure turned space travel from dreams to a 
reality. It is this spirit of challenge which fueled the courage and 
ambition of seven men and women into the sky on January 6, 2003. It is 
also this same spirit that drives these communities to permanently 
commemorate the high price we sometimes pay for reaching new horizons.
  Hemphill, TX, where the nose cone of the Shuttle was found, is also 
where the remains of the crew were recovered. The VFW post in Hemphill 
fed thousands of volunteers for weeks without so much as a complaint or 
a dime. The men and women of Hemphill did not take their task lightly, 
but rather with a solemn grace and dignity.

[[Page S322]]

  The greatest amount of debris came down in the populated areas of 
Nacogdoches, TX. Backyards and streets were littered with debris, 
permanently altering the community. The citizens of Nacogdoches pulled 
together and focused on the recovery, working day and night with NASA 
until the job was complete. A spirit of courage overran the community 
of Nacogdoches and their sacrifice should never be forgotten.
  The population of Lufkin, TX doubled overnight as the retrieval 
effort started. The people of Lufkin opened their doors and hearts to 
thousands and made their civic center NASA's Columbia retrival command 
center. From combing the streets and fields for debris to making home 
cooked meals for the recovery workers, the people of Lufkin mustered 
around the Columbia tragedy.
  In recent years, America has borne too much tragedy and experienced 
too much grief, but our collective loss still sears our souls and the 
pain is never easy to bear. Today, just one year after they vanished 
into the deep blue skies of Texas, we pause to remember and honor Rick 
Husband, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, Ilan Roman, William McCool, 
David Brown, and Michael Anderson.
  And though the families' losses cannot be diminished, their pain and 
grief is shared around the world and our prayers are with them. This 
bill will memorialize their sacrifice and will honor the courageous 
spirit of the communities effected. Their sacrifices will never be 
forgotten.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2034

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Columbia Space Shuttle 
     Memorials Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Memorial.--The term ``memorial'' means each of the 
     memorials to the Space Shuttle Columbia established by 
     section 3(a).
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     SEC. 3. MEMORIALS TO THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA.

       (a) Establishment.--There are established as units of the 
     National Park System 3 memorials to the Space Shuttle 
     Columbia to be located on the 3 parcels of land in the State 
     described in subsection (b) on which large debris from the 
     Space Shuttle Columbia was recovered.
       (b) Description of Land.--The parcels of land referred to 
     in subsection (a) are--
       (1) the parcel of land owned by the Fredonia Corporation, 
     located at the southeast corner of the intersection of E. 
     Hospital Street and N. Fredonia Street, Nacogdoches, Texas;
       (2) the parcel of land owned by Temple Inland Inc., located 
     10 acres of a 61-acre tract bounded by State Highway 83 and 
     Bayou Bend Road, Hemphill, Texas; and
       (3) the parcel of land owned by the city of Lufkin, Texas, 
     located at City Hall Park, 301 Charlton Street, Lufkin, 
     Texas.
       (c) Administration.--The memorials shall be administered by 
     the Secretary.
       (d) Additional Sites.--The Secretary may recommend to 
     Congress additional sites in the State of Texas related to 
     the Space Shuttle Columbia for establishment as memorials to 
     the Space Shuttle Columbia.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, to remain available 
     until expended.
                                 ______