[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 124 (Tuesday, October 5, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8100-H8104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENSE OF CONGRESS RECOGNIZING CONTRIBUTIONS OF SEVEN COLUMBIA 
                               ASTRONAUTS

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 57) expressing the sense of the 
Congress in recognition of the contributions of the seven Columbia 
astronauts by supporting establishment of a Columbia Memorial Space 
Science Learning Center, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 57

       Whereas the crew of the space shuttle Columbia was 
     dedicated to scientific research and stimulating the interest 
     of American children in space flight and science;
       Whereas the Columbia crew carried out science projects of 
     American schoolchildren;
       Whereas the members of that crew gave their lives trying to 
     benefit the education of American children;
       Whereas a fitting tribute to that effort and to the 
     sacrifice of the Columbia crew and their families is needed;
       Whereas an appropriate form for such tribute would be to 
     expand educational opportunities in science by the creation 
     of a center and museum to offer children and teachers 
     activities and information derived from American space 
     research;
       Whereas the former manufacturing site of the space shuttles 
     (including the Columbia and the Challenger) in the city of 
     Downey, California, is a fitting site for such a tribute;
       Whereas residents of Downey are proud of their role in 
     building the space shuttle fleet and in furthering the 
     Nation's space program; and
       Whereas city officials have been working with NASA 
     representatives to develop the center in Downey: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,  That it is 
     the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) the space science learning center in Downey, 
     California, should be designated as the Columbia Memorial 
     Space Science Learning Center as a living memorial to the 
     seven Columbia astronauts who died serving their country in 
     the name of science and research; and
       (2) the Federal Government, along with public and private 
     organizations and persons, should continue to cooperate in 
     the establishment of such a center.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. 
Gordon) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. 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 on H.J. Res. 57.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of time, a thirst for knowledge has 
been the greatest of motivations for discovery and exploration. Our 
passionate pursuit of the unknown has resulted in opening new frontiers 
and tremendous technological and other opportunities that benefit 
humankind.
  There are no better examples of this spirit than the courageous crew 
of the Space Shuttle Columbia. They made the ultimate sacrifice, we say 
paid the ultimate sacrifice, so we could exceed our limitations in 
exploring the heavens. This resolution is a fitting tribute to the 
Columbia crew, who dedicated their lives to scientific research and 
space exploration.
  The fact that on their fateful mission they conducted experiments 
designed

[[Page H8101]]

by school children demonstrates the value that the Columbia crew placed 
on young people. They believed in the participation of young people and 
the involvement of young people in America's space experience.
  H.J. Res. 57 will continue this exalted tradition by inspiring future 
generations of American children to pursue opportunities in science and 
engineering and by providing them a facility with a history that is 
tied directly to the Space Shuttle program.
  I visited the Downey facility, which will become, when this 
resolution passes, this space learning center, as a young reporter in 
the 1970s. At that time, I remember that I was ushered into this 
aerospace facility. It was a large building, and I was ushered in there 
to cover my story, and I was ushered right to the first mock-up of the 
Space Shuttle. It was in this Downey facility where the space shuttles 
were put together and designed. Certainly seeing that first mock-up, 
before there ever was a Space Shuttle, inspired me as a young reporter; 
and I am certain it will inspire young people as well.
  As far as my inspiration, I went on later on after my journalism 
career to be a speech writer for Ronald Reagan.

                              {time}  1630

  It was my honor to work with President Reagan on several of his 
remarks dealing with the return of the first shuttles that were put 
into orbit and into space. So that bit of inspiration that the shuttle 
mock-up had on me paid off with dividends for the President of the 
United States and for the people of the United States.
  I would think that the young people who go through this center will 
also, with their inspiration, serve our country and the cause of 
humankind well into the future; and this, of course, is a wonderful 
gift that we can give them that is tied to this history of the shuttle.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I join my friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Rohrabacher), in support of H.J. Res. 57 which recognizes, through a 
sense of Congress, the contribution of the seven Columbia astronauts by 
supporting the establishment of a Columbia Memorial Science Learning 
Center in Downey, California.
  The Columbia shuttle accident was a great tragedy in American 
history. These courageous astronauts were dedicated to scientific 
research and stimulated the interest of American children in space 
flight and science. The crew members gave their lives in trying to 
benefit the education of American children.
  Accordingly, an appropriate tribute to their memory would be to 
expand educational opportunities in science by the establishment of a 
center and museum to provide children and teachers with activities and 
information derived from American space science and research.
  A fitting site for such a memorial is the former manufacturing site 
of the space shuttles, including the Columbia and Challenger, in the 
city of Downey, California. City officials have worked diligently with 
the NASA officials to develop this center. As a result, it is both 
appropriate and important for Congress to endorse this effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.
  I would like to pay a special tribute at this time to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard) for the hard work that she put in 
on this effort. She has been working with local government in that 
area, as well as the rest of us, to try to make sure that this facility 
would be put to good use for the benefit of our country and for the 
benefit of young people.
  So as we move forward with this legislation, we need to make sure 
that we thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard) for 
her hard work on the project.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Bartlett), an esteemed member of our committee, and a Ph.D. whose 
guidance and thoughtful reflection have helped many of us on the 
Committee on Science on very complicated issues.
  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, recognizing the contribution 
and sacrifice of our brave astronauts is certainly reason enough to 
support this resolution, but there may be a justification which is 
equally important.
  For a number of years now, decreasing numbers of our young people 
have aspired to careers in science, math, and engineering. This puts us 
at a competitive disadvantage with the rest of the world. Indeed, many 
of our companies in this country must solicit overseas for workers in 
these technical areas because we simply are not turning out enough in 
this country.
  For the short term, this is a threat to our economic superiority. We 
will not continue to be the world's premier economic power if we do not 
turn out scientists, mathematicians, and engineers in adequate numbers. 
For the longer term, it is a threat to our national security. Our 
military prowess is now the envy of the world. That cannot continue to 
be so for the future if we do not turn out well-trained scientists, 
mathematicians, and engineers in large enough numbers.
  Hopefully, as young people come to this learning center, they will be 
inspired once again to pursue careers in science, math, and 
engineering. This will be good for them. It will certainly be good for 
our country.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Houston, Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I cannot thank this bipartisan 
effort enough for honoring our friends and neighbors from Houston, 
Texas, who died in the Columbia Seven Tragedy; and to also thank the 
distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard) for her 
leadership and her vision on this issue. I look forward to hearing her 
remarks as she captures for us the importance of what this space 
science center will represent, a living testimony to the bravery of the 
seven Columbia astronauts who died serving their country in the name of 
furthering scientific research.
  The establishment of this center will provide a venue that will 
inspire those who may be our future astronauts, scientists, and 
engineers and will help people of all ages enhance their knowledge of 
science and to value technology in their daily lives.
  We were certainly excited about the successful flight yesterday of 
SpaceShipOne, the world's first privately funded, manned spacecraft. I 
know that the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and myself, 
who sit on the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, and although I 
may be championing human space flight in a very loud tone, coming from 
NASA Johnson in Houston, we are all very excited about the potential of 
commercial space flight and the opportunities that it will bring about.
  This great center, educational learning center, will hopefully train 
the astronauts of tomorrow and certainly be part of eliminating the 
fear and encouraging the excitement that space exploration brings 
about.
  Let me say to my colleagues that America is not America without its 
commitment to space exploration. I am reminded of the leadership John 
F. Kennedy gave and the sparkle in the eyes of those who were able to 
hear and listen to his words and watch him speak. I believe President 
Kennedy said it well in 1962 in my hometown of Houston when declaring 
his commitment to putting a man on the Moon by the end of the decade. 
Well, Mr. Speaker, we have had men and women who have made their 
journey into space since that time.
  He said, ``This generation does not intend to founder in the backwash 
of the coming age of space. We mean to be a part of it. We mean to lead 
it. For the eyes of the world now to look into space, to the Moon, and 
to the planets beyond; and we avow that we shall not see it governed by 
the hostile flag of conquest, but by a banner of freedom and peace. We 
have vowed that we shall not see space filled with weapons of mass 
destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding.''
  With that, I also say that I believe it is important for the 
Committee on Science and, particularly, the Subcommittee on Space and 
Aeronautics

[[Page H8102]]

to take up the challenge that has been given to us by the naming of 
this great center, to ask the hard questions about safety. A number of 
my colleagues have written a letter to ask for a full hearing on the 
questions of safety of human space flight and, as well, to address the 
question of safety with respect to the International Space Station.
  I also would ask my colleagues to help me additionally honor the 
Columbia Seven by joining and supporting the Columbia Seven receiving 
the Congressional Gold Medal with over 320 sponsors of this House, 
along with sponsors of the United States Senate, the other body, as I 
am not allowed to mention the other body. Let us honor them, for they 
were brave, and let us pay tribute to this great resolution, H.J. Res. 
57, that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard) has so 
ably presented before us, and pay tribute to her for her leadership and 
as well thank her for bringing honor to the Columbia Seven.
  Let us join again in honoring them by supporting the Congressional 
Gold Medal for the Columbia Seven, because that brings additional 
tribute to their families, and let us again support the exploration of 
space by those learning to understand space and those still wishing to 
go into space.
  Mr. Speaker, I am here today to support H.J. Res. 57 designating the 
space science learning center in Downey, California as the ``Columbia 
Memorial Space Science Learing Center'' as a living memorial to the 
seven Columbia astronauts who died serving their country in the name of 
furthering scientific research. The establishment of this center will 
provide a venue that will inspire those who may be our future 
astronauts, scientists, and engineers and will help people of all ages 
enhance their knowledge of science and to value technology in their 
daily lives.
  Yesterday's news about the successful flight of SpaceShipOne the 
world's first privately funded manned spacecraft--its second flight in 
less than a week--is proof of the continued excitement for space travel 
and the science that supports it. Few were able to witness yesterday's 
flight. This new center will help to bring those experiences to the 
public.
  The naming of this center will help us to remember the sacrifices 
that the Columbia  astronauts have made to their country and in the 
furtherance of science. The seven astronauts whose lives were lost 
aboard the space shuttle Columbia were truly extraordinary people. To 
the world those astronauts were valiant heroes; to those of us from 
Houston, they were also friends, neighbors, and family. They were 
integral members of the community, and they paid the ultimate price to 
further a mission that benefited all of humanity.
  The courageous astronauts aboard the Columbia were individuals of the 
highest caliber, always striving for excellence, and exemplifying the 
most noble of human traits. They were skilled professionals, 
scientists, clinicians, adventurers, and family men and women. The crew 
represented the diversity of our Nation--black and white, men and 
women, immigrant and native-born. The crew even included a comrade from 
Israel, the embodiment of the international goals of peace and 
cooperation.
  I believe President Kennedy said it well in 1962 in my hometown of 
Houston, when declaring his commitment to putting a man on the moon by 
the end of that decade. He said,
  ``This generation does not intend to founder in the backwash of the 
coming age of space. We mean to be a part of it--we mean to lead it. 
For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the 
planets beyond, and we have vowed that we shall not see it governed by 
a hostile flag of conquest, but by a banner of freedom and peace. We 
have vowed that we shall not see space filled with weapons of mass 
destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding.''
  I believe that President Kennedy would have been proud to see the 
fantastic progress of the program that he so inspired that day. Today, 
NASA provides insights into the origins, destiny, and wonder of the 
universe and is a source of dreams for young and old alike.
  Beyond the technological benefits of space exploration, NASA's 
courageous pioneers also inspired the youth of America in a way that 
only manned space missions can. The majesty and adventure of seeing 
people traversing the heavens sparks the natural curiosity and 
imagination of young people. It nudges some toward science and math and 
pushes all to strive for excellence. Seeing a team, like that on the 
Columbia inspires young engineers, scientists, and all sorts of people 
who want to be part of something truly great and noble. That 
inspiration may well be the Columbia crew's most enduring impact on 
humanity. Centers like the ``Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning 
Center''--itself located on an historic NASA site--are important in 
bringing that inspiration to the public.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, as we move forward in this discussion, I believe that 
the words of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) and, of course, 
the words of the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) should be 
taken very seriously when we are talking about young people and the 
molding or melding here of our space program along with the education 
of America's youth.
  This has been a great experience for me in that it may be my last 
time as chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics to 
address this House on an issue. I have been the chairman for 8 years, 
and let me just note that I have thoroughly enjoyed being the chairman 
of this subcommittee because by its nature, America's space program 
brings our people together, and by its nature then, we have had a 
tremendous bipartisan, positive relationship in our subcommittee and on 
our committee staff.
  One of the projects I have worked on which I have yet to complete in 
terms of my ultimate goal, but one of the projects I have worked on and 
on which I have had some tremendous support from both sides of the 
aisle, is providing young people who want to study math and science and 
engineering full scholarships that would be set up by the various 
departments and agencies of our government, NASA in particular, in 
order to mold the education of young people so that they can fulfill 
the needs of these various departments for skilled people in the 
future, while at the same time providing engineering and scientific 
education for our young people.
  These scholarships, by the way, would not be free; they would educate 
young people, and once the young person is done with the education, 
having received a full scholarship, for every 1 year of scholarship, 
they would be expected to work for that department or agency of 
government for 2 years. It would be a payback, one might say, although 
the student would then be receiving full pay like any other employee of 
that department.
  Mr. Speaker, I will be working on that project for the next few 
years, and I would hope for this same spirit of bipartisanship that we 
hear today, and as we congratulate the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Roybal-Allard) for her hard work today on behalf of children and the 
space program, that we would work together to try to implement the 
scholarship program that I have just outlined. And I will be making it 
a priority in my next few years in Congress, although I will not be the 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics anymore.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), the original sponsor of this important 
bill.
  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of 
House Joint Resolution 57, which I introduced last year with my 
distinguished colleague, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and 
Aeronautics, the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).
  I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) for his 
support and his assistance in bringing this resolution to the floor. 
This resolution, I am proud to say, has the unanimous support of the 
California delegation in the House of Representatives, and I thank all 
of them for their sponsorship.
  Mr. Speaker, House Joint Resolution 57 names the proposed learning 
center in the city of Downey the Columbia Memorial Space Science 
Learning Center. This naming is in honor of the seven brave astronauts 
who lost their lives on the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003.
  The city of Downey, which I am proud to say is in my 34th 
Congressional District, was home to the former Rockwell International 
plant where key components of NASA's space shuttle fleet, including the 
Columbia, were built. The history of America's space program runs deep 
through the fabric of Downey where virtually everyone in the city 
boasts of having a relative or a friend who played a key role in 
engineering or building our Nation's space shuttle fleet.

[[Page H8103]]

  When NASA closed the shuttle manufacturing facility, it was Downey's 
great pride in its space heritage that motivated city leaders to 
incorporate a space science learning center as a cornerstone of its 
economic redevelopment plan. Former Representative Steve Horn's early 
support was key to this effort, and his ability to secure Federal 
resources for the center was instrumental in moving the project 
forward.
  I am pleased to continue his work and to be able to have finalized 
the transfer of the former NASA site from the State of California to 
the city of Downey. When completed in 2006, the learning center will 
memorialize the Columbia astronauts, the rich space history of Downey, 
and all who helped realize our Nation's dream of space exploration.
  To effectively teach current and future generations about this proud 
history, Downey has contracted an historian familiar with aeronautic 
development and its special context in southern California.

                              {time}  1645

  His or her work will be the principle source for history-oriented 
exhibits and programs at the center. The Columbia Learning Center, 
however, is also about the future of space exploration. Downey's 
leaders recognize that the city's legacy goes beyond astronauts and 
aeronautical engineers or the shuttles, Apollo modules, and moon 
capsules that were built in Downey during the last half century.
  They know the future lies in our youth. The Columbia Memorial Space 
Science Learning Center will therefore design programs and exhibits to 
excite our youth about the sciences and to inspire them to become our 
country's future scientists, engineers and astronauts who will explore 
the universe and make discoveries we can now only imagine.
  I cannot think of a more fitting memorial than to name the Downey 
Space Science Learning Center in honor of the brave men and women of 
the Columbia crew who gave their lives in the pursuits of space science 
and space exploration.
  I am proud to sponsor this legislation with the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and the entire California delegation, and 
I urge its adoption.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as we conclude this important bill, I would just like to 
say that I served as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Space 
and Aeronautics with the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) 
for most of those 8 years.
  In my 20 years in Congress, I have not served with a more fair, 
decent or knowledgeable chairman as the gentleman. And I will also say 
that, within his discretion, which was most of the time, he could not 
have been more bipartisan in trying to find solutions to our joint 
concerns. So I very sincerely say that the Subcommittee on Space and 
Aeronautics, the Committee on Science, our country is a better place 
for the gentleman's service to the Committee on Science.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. GORDON. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was just listening to the 
final remarks of the gentleman when I was standing here. I was not 
recognizing that we are towards the end of the session and that we are 
coming to an end of a tenure. I might have been one of those that put 
in a petition for the extension of the chairman's tenure. But I just 
want to join my ranking member and congratulate the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher) for many of the bipartisan efforts and 
journeys that we have taken.
  We have a mutual love of space exploration. We have teased each other 
about unmanned and manned in space, and I will change that to womaned 
and unwomaned. But in any event, I, too, want to add my appreciation. I 
will continue to work with him as he works with me in supporting not 
only this great resolution but also the Congressional Gold Medal that 
honors our Columbia seven as well.
  I thank the distinguished ranking member for yielding to me, and I 
thank him for his support on the Congressional Gold Medal work and the 
legislation before us.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I would say that all the men and women on 
our subcommittee on my side of the aisle would echo those remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a fitting time for me to sort of step down 
because we had this tremendous success yesterday on Spaceship One. And 
one of my major goals as chairman of this committee was to make sure 
that commercial space remained an option so that in the future that we 
did not look at space as just an endeavor of the Federal Government, 
but instead looked at it as possibly offering services through the 
commercial sector and profit-making ventures as well as space 
exploration and some of the other types of things in space science that 
can only be done by the government itself or government working with 
private industry.
  So this great achievement of having a commercially sponsored and 
designed and paid-for spaceship that went into space and was capable of 
carrying passengers, this was a great success. And I want to commend 
everyone who was involved in the spaceship program.
  By the way, that was done in response to a prize, the X Prize, which 
offered a $10 million prize to anyone who could accomplish that 
mission. And I will be introducing legislation within the next few days 
to try to systemize the prize concept encouraging space endeavors in 
developing new technologies.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me finish with this one note about space. 
We were talking a lot today about this particular legislation which is 
aimed at providing a link between children's learning and our future 
and the space program and the astronauts and the space shuttle, and 
these are links that certainly exist. But what we hear most often when 
we are talking about space is, why is space worth it? Why are we so 
involved? Why is there a space subcommittee of the Committee on 
Science? Why are we spending so much time, effort and money? Is it 
really worth the investment?
  What I would like to leave in this debate and on the record is why 
our investment in space has been so valuable to the people of the 
United States and, yes, the people of the world.
  I remember when I was a young boy, that I crawled into a pit 
underneath a little house in North Dakota because it had been reported 
that tornados were expected that night. And we had to spend the entire 
night listening to some little radio there in a hole in the ground 
underneath the floor boards of this small farm. And, in fact, today, we 
have the small farmers and people throughout the country and people in 
cities that know when tornados are coming and have adequate warnings.
  There has been much progress made in this area, especially in the 
area of tornados and hurricanes.
  I sat through a hurricane when I was younger. The people of Florida, 
one can only wonder how many more billions of dollars would have been 
lost in damage and lives would have been lost if it would not have been 
for the satellite technology that permitted us to track the hurricanes 
that slammed into Florida just recently. We had ample warning to people 
to prepare. We now have a GPS system that will tell us where we are 
located on the planet which has tremendous commercial applications but 
also tremendous applications to make sure that, in the future, our 
landing systems for our airplanes will be specifically guided to 
protect the passengers who travel throughout the country.
  I remember, before there was space imaging, and as I say, my family 
came from a farming background where people farmed totally different. 
Today's space imaging helps us improve the yield and protects the crops 
that we plant so it helps keep the cost of food down. In each one of 
these instances, we are talking about billions upon billions of dollars 
that are saved by the people of the United States and the world by an 
investment in space.
  We are talking about communication satellites. When I was young, I 
remember calling up my grandparents in North Dakota, and it was a long 
distance call. We called very rarely,

[[Page H8104]]

maybe two or three times a year, because the call was so expensive, and 
we had to go through so many operators, and it was so disruptive. It 
was $5 at that time which was a lot of money. We rarely called. But, 
today, young people can call up their grandparents on cell phones from 
anywhere, aided of course and made possible by the investment that we 
made in space-based assets. Those telephone calls now cost a matter of 
cents. We have increased the communications between generations. People 
call their loved ones.
  Our investment in space has increased the level of love in our 
society and saved us billions of dollars. And, of course, we have, the 
biggest issue when I first came to this Congress was what? The biggest 
issue was, should we regulate the cable industry, cable TV? And, of 
course, they said, there will never be any competition with cable TV 
because they have to put in the cables.
  Well, I, for one, have Direct TV at my house, and that competition 
has kept the costs of cable down, and it has just proliferated 
information and entertainment, made our lives happier throughout the 
country and saved, again, billions of dollars because of that 
competition in keeping down the cost of entertainment and information.
  Of course, our military assets in space have saved the lives of our 
soldiers and done a tremendous job of keeping the peace for the world, 
and that is in our hands.
  This is what we have accomplished with our investment. A meager 
investment in space has given us tens of billions, if not hundreds of 
billions, of dollars worth of value back to us. And that value can be 
used in education. That value has been used to make our society better 
because of what we have achieved from our space program.
  We are not at the end of the space program. We have a future to look 
forward to that is bright. We have a President that has offered us the 
guidelines for the future and the strategy for the future. We can see a 
possibility of generating power from space, from solar-based power in 
the future. We can see another colony, perhaps a colony on the moon, 
with its natural resources there, or on an asteroid. There are so many 
things that we can accomplish.
  The future depends on our children which is what this amendment today 
is all about, and it depends on the willingness of this generation to 
make an investment and to keep that investment in technology and in 
space-related assets.
  It has been my honor to serve as chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Space and Aeronautics, to work with people from both sides of the aisle 
who are committed to this type of future for America and the world. May 
we always lead the world in conquering new frontiers. May we always 
lead the world into the unknown and make sure that America leads the 
world into a better tomorrow.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 57, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the joint resolution, as amended, 
was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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