[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 132 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE GENEROUS ACTIONS OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE 
                             ADMINISTRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHARLES W. DENT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2006

  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the generous actions 
of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, following the 
damaging affects of Hurricane Katrina on our nation's liquid hydrogen 
infrastructure.
  On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast 
Region of the United States. In addition to the devastating impact that 
Hurricane Katrina levied on the residents and municipalities of the 
Gulf Coast Region, the storm also severely damaged numerous business 
and manufacturing establishments, including the world's largest liquid 
hydrogen manufacturing facility located in New Orleans, LA.
  For 40 years, NASA has been a major user of liquid hydrogen for many 
of its programs, including its Space Shuttle program. Today, NASA 
remains a significant and preferential customer of the New Orleans 
liquid hydrogen facility and, as such, is entitled to preferential 
supply due to its Defense Priority rating.
  Liquid hydrogen is essential in many commercial manufacturing 
applications including the production of metals, float glass and 
electronics products that are, in turn, critical resources for other 
major American manufactures.
  In anticipation of the Space Shuttle launch scheduled for March 2006, 
NASA had accumulated a considerable amount of liquid hydrogen in its 
spheres at the Kennedy Space Center, and had also planned significant 
testing of the Space Shuttle engines at Stennis Space Center prior to 
the March launch.
  Upon learning of the severe shortage of liquid hydrogen supply in 
North America due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the facility 
located in New Orleans, NASA voluntarily agreed to transfer back to the 
facility a total of 391,220 pounds of liquid hydrogen and agreed to 
``stand down'' its engine testing requirements at Stennis Space Center 
until liquid hydrogen production was resumed in November 2005.
  NASA's generous actions allowed for the continued, albeit reduced, 
supply of liquid hydrogen to most commercial customers across the 
United States and prevented the shutdown of numerous manufacturing 
facilities and commensurate job losses throughout the Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing 
NASA for its exceptional response and efforts in support of the U.S. 
manufacturing base by unselfishly committing its liquid hydrogen 
resources immediately following Hurricane Katrina's devastation ofthe 
Gulf Coast liquid hydrogen production capacity on August 29, 2005

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