[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H260-H261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO THE COLUMBIA SEVEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on the second anniversary of 
the tragic crash that took the lives of seven courageous astronauts 
aboard Space Shuttle Columbia, I ask all of my colleagues in the 
Congress to join me in paying tribute to our fallen heroes. The seven 
astronauts whose lives were lost aboard the space shuttle Columbia were 
extraordinary people. To the world those astronauts were valiant 
heroes; to us in Texas they were also friends, neighbors, and family. 
They made the ultimate sacrifice on a mission that benefited all of 
humanity. They deserve the highest level of honor, and their sacrifice 
and dedication must be commemorated in a way that will serve to inspire 
the next generation of explorers.
  Those that we remember today are:
  (1) Rick D. Husband;
  (2) Michael P. Anderson;
  (3) Laurel Clark;
  (4) David M. Brown;
  (5) William C. McCool;
  (6) Kapana Chawla; and
  (7) Ilan Ramon.
  These astronauts 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, and included a comrade from Israel embodying the 
international goals of peace and cooperation.
  The Columbia crew was deeply committee to the NASA mission. NASA 
provides insights into the origins, destiny, and wonder of the universe 
and is a source of dreams for young and old alike. These seven 
courageous explorers paid the ultimate price to improve our 
understanding of the universe, to advance our medical and engineering 
sciences, and to make the Nation safer and more secure. Before the 
Columbia started its tragic descent, the shuttle crew completed some 80 
scientific

[[Page H261]]

experiments. Much of their research data had already been relayed to 
Houston where it has added to the pool of scientific knowledge.
  In the 108th Congress, I introduce legislation (H.R. 525) that would 
have authorized the issuance of Congressional Gold Medals to 
commemorate our fallen heroes on the Space Shuttle Columbia. Three 
hundred eighteen of my colleagues in the House of Representatives 
joined me in the co-sponsorship of that legislation. Nevertheless, the 
bill never made it to a vote.
  I have reintroduced the bill in the 109th Congress (H.R. 258) 
authorizing the coinage of a Gold Medal to pay proper tribute to our 
astronauts. Unfortunately, untimely and ill conceived legislation (H.R. 
54) also before the 109th Congress which purports to ``provide 
reasonable standards for congressional gold medals'' essentially limits 
the bestowal of this honor to American icons. One of the main reasons 
that the medal is bestowed is to make the highest expression of 
national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. 
H.R. 54 will summarily restrict this goal and prevent many honored 
heroes from receiving proper recognition. Provisions in H.R. 54 will 
specifically exclude the award of Congressional Gold Medals to the 
Columbia astronauts.
  I hope that my colleagues in this esteemed body will join me in 
helping to pass legislation that will properly honor our Columbia 
heroes. I also ask my colleagues to help ensure that those deserving 
can be recognized by Congress through the issuance of Gold Medals.
  The tragedy that occurred two years ago serves as a wake-up call for 
a new look at spacecraft safety. NASA has made good progress 
identifying the causes of the Columbia crash and is designing 
approaches for the Shuttles' return to flight. I have called for 
detailed safety analyses of he International Space Station (ISS) and 
hope that my colleagues will work with me in developing legislation 
that will authorize a safety audit of the ISS that will address the 
same level of detail addressed by the Columbia Accident Investigation 
Board.

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