[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8920-H8925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NASA 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 2750) to require the Secretary of the Treasury
to mint coins in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the
establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and
the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows
H.R. 2750
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 ``NASA 50th Anniversary
Commemorative Coin Act''.
[[Page H8921]]
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration began
operation on October 1, 1958, with about 8,000 employees and
an annual budget of $100,000,000.
(2) Over the next 50 years, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration has been involved in many defining
events which have shaped the course of human history and
demonstrated to the world the character of the people of the
United States.
(3) Among the many firsts by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration are the following:
(A) On December 6, 1958, the United States launched Pioneer
3, the first United States satellite to ascend to an altitude
of 63,580 miles.
(B) On March 3, 1959, the United States sent Pioneer 4 to
the Moon, successfully making the first United States lunar
flyby.
(C) On April 1, 1960, the United States launched TIROS 1,
the first successful meteorological satellite, observing
Earth's weather.
(D) On May 5, 1961, Freedom 7, carrying Astronaut Alan B.
Shepard, Jr., was the first American space flight involving
human beings.
(E) On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first
American to circle the Earth, making three orbits in his
Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft.
(F) On December 14, 1962, Mariner 2 became the first
spacecraft to commit a successful planetary flyby (Venus).
(G) On April 6, 1965, the United States launched Intelsat I
(also known as Early Bird 1), the first commercial satellite
(communications), into geostationary orbit.
(H) On June 3-7, 1965, the second piloted Gemini mission,
Gemini IV, stayed aloft for 4 days and astronaut Edward H.
White II performed the first EVA or spacewalk by an American.
(I) On June 2, 1966, Surveyor 1 became the first American
spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon.
(J) On May 31, 1971, the United States launched Mariner 9,
the first mission to orbit another planet (Mars) beginning
November 13, 1971.
(K) On April 12, 1981, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration launched the Space Shuttle Columbia on the
first flight of the Space Transportation System (STS-1).
(L) On June 18, 1983, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration launched Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-7)
carrying 3 mission specialists, including Sally K. Ride, the
first woman astronaut.
(M) In another historic mission, 2 months later the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched STS-8
carrying the first black American astronaut, Guion S.
Bluford.
(N) On July 23, 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia's 26th
flight was led by Air Force Col. Eileen Collins, the first
woman to command a Shuttle mission.
(4) On April 9, 1959, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration unveiled the Mercury astronaut corps, 7 men
with ``the right stuff'': John H. Glenn, Jr., Walter M.
Schirra, Jr., Alan B. Shepard, Jr., M. Scott Carpenter, L.
Gordon Cooper, Virgil I. ``Gus'' Grissom, and Donald K.
``Deke'' Slayton.
(5) On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, reflecting
the highest aspirations of the American people, proclaimed:
``I believe this Nation should commit itself to achieving the
goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon
and returning him safely to Earth. No single space project in
this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more
important in the long-range exploration of space; and none
will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.''
(6) On September 19, 1961, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration announced that the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration center dedicated to human space
flight would be built in Houston, Texas.
(7) On February 17, 1973, the Manned Spacecraft Center in
Houston was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
(8) On December 21, 1968, Apollo 8 took off atop a Saturn V
booster from the Kennedy Space Center for a historic mission
to orbit the Moon.
(9) As Apollo 8 traveled outward, the crew focused a
portable television camera on Earth and for the first time
humanity saw its home from afar, a tiny, lovely, and fragile
``blue marble'' hanging in the blackness of space.
(10) This transmission and viewing of Earth from a distance
was an enormously significant accomplishment and united the
Nation at a time when American society was in crisis over
Vietnam, race relations, urban problems, and a host of other
difficulties.
(11) On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A.
Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin made the first lunar landing
mission while Michael Collins orbited overhead in the Apollo
command module.
(12) Armstrong set foot on the surface, telling the
millions of listeners that it was ``one small step for a man,
one giant leap for mankind''; Aldrin soon followed and
planted an American flag, but omitted claiming the land for
the United States as had routinely been done during European
exploration of the Americas.
(13) The 2 Moon walkers left behind an American flag and a
plaque bearing the inscription: ``Here Men From The Planet
Earth First Set Foot Upon the Moon. Jul. 1969 A.D. We Came in
Peace for All Mankind.''.
(14) On April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was
launched into space aboard the STS-31 mission of the Space
Shuttle Discovery and since then the Hubble has
revolutionized astronomy while expanding our knowledge of the
universe and inspiring millions of scientists, students, and
members of the public with its unprecedented deep and clear
images of space.
(15) On July 4, 1997, the Mars Pathfinder landed on Mars
and on January 29, 1998, an International Space Station
agreement among 15 countries met in Washington, DC, to sign
agreements to establish the framework for cooperation among
the partners on the design, development, operation, and
utilization of the Space Station.
(16) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's
stunning achievements over the last 50 years have been won
for all mankind at great cost and sacrifice; in the quest to
explore the universe, many National Aeronautics and Space
Administration employees have lost their lives, including the
crews of Apollo 1, the Space Shuttle Challenger, and the
Space Shuttle Columbia.
(17) The success of the United States space exploration
program in the 20th Century augurs well for its continued
leadership in the 21st Century; this leadership is
attributable to the remarkable and indispensable partnership
between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and
its 10 space and research centers as follows:
(A) From small spacecraft to supercomputers, science
missions and payloads to thermal protection systems,
information technology to aerospace, the Ames Research Center
in California's Silicon Valley provides products,
technologies, and services that enable NASA missions and
expand human knowledge.
(B) The Dryden Flight Research Center, the leading center
for innovative flight research.
(C) The Glenn Research Center, which develops power,
propulsion, and communication technologies for space flight
systems and aeronautics research.
(D) The Goddard Space Flight Center, which specializes in
research to expand knowledge on the Earth and its
environment, the solar system, and the universe through
observations from space.
(E) The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the leading center for
robotic exploration of the Solar System.
(F) The Johnson Space Center, which manages the
development, testing, production, and delivery of all United
States human spacecraft and all human spacecraft-related
functions.
(G) The Kennedy Space Center, the gateway to the Universe
and world leader in preparing and launching missions around
the Earth and beyond.
(H) The Langley Research Center, which continues to forge
new frontiers in aviation and space research for aerospace,
atmospheric sciences, and technology commercialization to
improve the way the world lives.
(I) The Marshall Space Flight Center, a world leader in
developing space transportation and propulsion systems,
engineers the future to accelerate exploration and scientific
discovery.
(J) The Stennis Space Center, which is responsible for
rocket propulsion testing and for partnering with industry to
develop and implement remote sensing technology.
(18) The United States should pay tribute to the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, and to its successful
partnerships with the space and research centers, by minting
and issuing a commemorative silver dollar coin.
(19) The surcharge proceeds from the sale of a
commemorative coin would generate valuable funding for the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Families
Assistance Fund for the purposes of providing need-based
financial assistance to the families of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration personnel who die as a
result of injuries suffered in the performance of their
official duties.
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) Denominations.--In commemoration of the 50th
anniversary of the establishment of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, the Secretary of the Treasury
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'')
shall mint and issue the following coins:
(1) $50 gold coins.--Not more than 50,000 $50 gold coins
which shall--
(A) weigh 33.931 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 32.7 millimeters; and
(C) contain 1 troy ounce of fine gold.
(2) $1 silver coins.--Not more than 300,000 $1 coins of
each of the 9 designs specified in section 3(a)(3)(B), which
shall--
(A) weigh 26.73 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(C) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.
(b) Legal Tender.--The coins minted under this Act shall be
legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United
States Code.
(c) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of
title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act
shall be considered to be numismatic items.
(d) Mintage Level Limit.--Notwithstanding the mintage level
limit described under section 5112(m)(2)(A)(ii) of title 31,
[[Page H8922]]
United States Code, the Secretary of the Treasury may mint
and issue not more than 300,000 of each of the 9 $1 coins
authorized to be minted under this Act.
SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.
(a) Design Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this
Act shall be emblematic of the 50 years of exemplary and
unparalleled achievements of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration.
(2) Designation and inscriptions.--On each coin minted
under this Act there shall be--
(A) a designation of the value of the coin;
(B) an inscription of the year ``2008''; and
(C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We
Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus
Unum'', and such other inscriptions as the Secretary may
determine to be appropriate for the designs of the coins.
(3) Coin images.--
(A) $50 coins.--
(i) Obverse.--The obverse of the $50 coins issued under
this Act shall bear an image of the sun.
(ii) Reverse.--The reverse of the $50 coins issued under
this Act shall bear a design emblematic of the sacrifice of
the United States astronauts who lost their lives in the line
of duty over the course of the space program.
(iii) High relief.--The design and inscriptions on the
obverse and reverse of the $50 coins issued under this Act
shall be in high relief.
(B) $1 coins.--
(i) Obverse.--The obverse of the $1 coins issued under this
Act shall bear 9 different designs each of which shall
consist of an image of 1 of the 9 planets of the solar
system, including Earth.
(ii) Reverse.--The reverse of the $1 coins issued under
this Act shall bear different designs each of which shall be
emblematic of the contributions of the research and space
centers, subject to the following requirements:
(I) Earth coin.--The reverse of the $1 coins issued under
this Act which bear an image of the Earth on the obverse
shall bear images emblematic of, and honoring, the
discoveries and missions of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, the Mercury, Gemini and Space Shuttle
missions and other manned Earth-orbiting missions, and the
Apollo missions to the Moon.
(II) Jupiter coin.--The reverse of the $1 coins issued
under this Act which bear an image of the planet Jupiter on
the obverse shall include a scientifically accurate depiction
of the Galilean moon Europa and depict both a past and future
mission to Europa.
(III) Saturn coin.--The reverse of the $1 coins issued
under this Act which bear an image of the planet Saturn on
the obverse shall include a scientifically accurate depiction
of the moon Titan and depict both a past and a future mission
to Titan.
(IV) Pluto (and other dwarf planets) coin.--The reverse of
the $1 coins issued under this Act which bear an image of the
planet Pluto on the obverse shall include a design that is
emblematic of telescopic exploration of deep space by the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the ongoing
search for Earth-like planets orbiting other stars.
(4) Realistic and scientifically accurate depictions.--The
images for the designs of coins issued under this Act shall
be selected on the basis of the realism and scientific
accuracy of the images and on the extent to which the images
are reminiscent of the dramatic and beautiful artwork on
coins of the so-called ``Golden Age of Coinage'' in the
United States, at the beginning of the Twentieth Century,
with the participation of such noted sculptors and medallic
artists as James Earle Fraser, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Victor
David Brenner, Adolph A. Weinman, Charles E. Barber, and
George T. Morgan.
(b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this
Act shall be--
(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and the Commission of Fine Arts; and
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coin Advisory Committee.
SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.
(a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be
issued in proof quality only.
(b) Mint Facility.--Only 1 facility of the United States
Mint may be used to strike any particular combination of
denomination and quality of the coins minted under this Act.
(c) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins
minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning
on January 1, 2008.
(d) Issuance of Gold Coins.--Each gold coin minted under
this Act may be issued only as part of a complete set with 1
of each of the 9 $1 coins minted under this Act.
SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.
(a) Sale Price.--The coins issued under this Act shall be
sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of--
(1) the face value of the coins;
(2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to
such coins; and
(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including
labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses,
marketing, and shipping).
(b) Prepaid Orders.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders
for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of
such coins.
(2) Discount.--Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders
under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
(c) Presentation.--In addition to the issuance of coins
under this Act in such other methods of presentation as the
Secretary of the Treasury determines to be appropriate, the
Secretary shall provide, as a sale option, a presentation
case which displays the $50 gold coin in the center
surrounded by the $1 silver coins in elliptical orbits. All
such presentation cases shall bear a plaque with appropriate
inscriptions that include the names and dates of the
spacecraft missions on which United States astronauts lost
their lives over the course of the space program and the
names of such astronauts.
SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.
(a) In General.--All sales of coins minted under this Act
shall include a surcharge as follows:
(1) A surcharge of $50 per coin for the $50 coin.
(2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 coin.
(b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31,
United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary
from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be
promptly distributed as follows:
(1) The first $4,000,000 available for distribution under
this section, to the NASA Family Assistance Fund for the
purposes of providing need-based financial assistance to the
families of NASA personnel who die as a result of injuries
suffered in the performance of their official duties.
(2) Of amounts available for distribution after the payment
under paragraph (1), \1/2\ of the next $1,000,000 to each of
the following:
(A) The Dr. Ronald E. McNair Educational (D.R.E.M.E.)
Science Literacy Foundation for the purposes of improving and
strengthening the process of teaching and learning science,
math, and technology at all educational levels, elementary
through college through the promotion of innovative
educational programs.
(B) The Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence for the
purposes of supporting the work of the Foundation in building
critical thinking skills, experiential teaching methods,
science literacy, and integrated approaches to learning and
individual responsibility in achieving excellence.
(3) The remainder of the amounts available for distribution
after the payments under paragraphs (1) and (2), to the
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution for the
preservation, maintenance, and display of space artifacts at
the National Air and Space Museum (including the Steven F.
Udvar-Hazy Center).
(c) Audits.--The NASA Family Assistance Fund, the Dr.
Ronald E. McNair Educational Science Literacy Foundation, the
Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, and the Secretary
of the Smithsonian Institution shall be subject to the audit
requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States
Code, with regard to the amounts received under subsection
(b).
(d) Limitation.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), no
surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under
this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the
time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result
in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during
such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program
issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31,
United States Code (as in effect on the date of the enactment
of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue
guidance to carry out this subsection.
SEC. 8. BRONZE DUPLICATES.
The Secretary may strike and sell bronze duplicates of the
$50 gold coins authorized under this Act, at a price the
Secretary determines to be appropriate. Such duplicates shall
not be considered to be United States coins and shall not be
legal tender.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
General Leave
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and
extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous
material therein.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Allow me, first of all, to acknowledge the chairperson of the
Financial Services Committee as I rise in strong support of H.R. 2750,
the NASA 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act. Chairman Frank has
been an outstanding leader of his committee and has been very gracious
in the formulating and finalizing of this legislation. I thank him
again. I thank his staff and, of course, the staff of the ranking
member.
[[Page H8923]]
Let me also thank my colleague from Texas (Mr. Culberson), who joined
me in introducing this legislation. And, of course, we have worked very
handily together, if you will. I thank his staff. And together we are
committed to affirming and celebrating the 50th anniversary of NASA and
as well the 50th anniversary of the Jet Propulsion Lab.
Let me just quickly acknowledge the founding of NASA in October,
1958, and remind my colleagues of all the successes that we have
accomplished through the belief, as John F. Kennedy said, that we can
explore space.
Might I acknowledge and remind my colleagues of February 20, 1962,
John Glenn's becoming the first American to circle the Earth. On April
6, 1965, the United States launched Intelsat I. On November 13, 1971,
Mariner 9 was launched. In 1981, NASA launched the space shuttle
Columbia. And on June 18-24, 1983, NASA launched the space shuttle
Challenger.
{time} 2000
Of course, we have faced some sad moments in NASA's history, but
overall, as we look toward the future and have reflected on July 22,
1999, Space Shuttle Columbia, and then of course July 20, 1969, Apollo
11, we know that tragedy has faced NASA, but we also know that we have
faced tragedy with a certain determination and commitment to space
exploration.
This coin bill will, in fact, allow us to commemorate a number of the
centers and the 50 years of success of NASA and the Jet Propulsion Lab.
But it also will provide a comfort to those families of Challenger and
Columbia by providing aid to the families. It will give the coin
collectors, I hope, a great day of celebration, and it will give those
who are interested in studying and producing more Americans in math and
science an opportunity to promote and support programs that will
encourage young people to go into math and science.
I believe that this bill is one that all of us can support. It is a
bipartisan bill
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2750, the NASA 50th
Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act. I would like to thank my colleague
Mr. Culberson, who joined me in introducing this legislation, and
Chairman Franks of the Financial Services Committee, for his excellent
leadership in shepherding this historic legislation to passage on the
House floor.
The year 2008 will mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). This important legislation celebrates
NASA's 50th birthday with a commemorative coin. The legislation also
honors the extraordinary partnerships between NASA and its 10 space and
research centers.
Madam Speaker, NASA has a distinguished history. The United States of
America won the race to land a man on the moon and, thanks to the
courage, dedication, and brilliance of NASA, America has continued to
lead the world in the exploration of the solar system and the universe.
On October 1, 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
began operation. At the time it consisted of only about 8,000 employees
and an annual budget of $100 million. Over the next 50 years, NASA has
been involved in many defining events which have shaped the course of
human history and demonstrated to the world the character of the people
of the United States.
Many of us remember how inspired we were when on May 25, 1961,
President John F. Kennedy proclaimed: ``I believe this Nation should
commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of
landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth. No single
space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or
more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will
be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.''
Always at the forefront of technological innovation, NASA has been
home to countless ``firsts'' in the field of space exploration, from
the 1958 launch of Pioneer 3, the first U.S. satellite to ascend to an
altitude of 63,580 miles, to the January 1998 signing of the
International Space Station agreement between 15 countries,
establishing the framework for cooperation among partners on the
design, development, operation, and utilization of the Space Station.
Over the past 50 years, NASA's accomplishments have included:
On 20 Feb. 1962, John Glenn became the first American to circle the
Earth, making three orbits in his Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft.
On 6 Apr. 1965, the United States launched Intelsat I, the first
commercial satellite (communications), into geostationary orbit. On 13
Nov. 1971, the United States launched Mariner 9, the first I mission to
orbit another planet (Mars).
On 12 Apr. 1981, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Columbia on the
first flight of the Space Transportation System (STS-1).
On 18-24 Jun. 1983, NASA launched Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-7)
carrying three mission specialists, including Sally K. Ride, the first
woman astronaut. In another historic mission, two months later NASA
launched STS-8 carrying the first black American astronaut, Guion S.
Bluford.
On 22 Jul. 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia's 26th flight was led by
Air Force Col. Eileen Collins, the first woman to command a Shuttle
mission.
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E.
Aldrin made the first lunar landing mission while Michael Collins
orbited overhead in the Apollo command module. Armstrong set foot on
the surface, telling the millions of listeners that it was ``one small
step for man--one giant leap for mankind.'' Aldrin soon followed him
out and planted an American flag but omitted claiming the land for the
U.S. as had routinely been done during European exploration of the
Americas. The two Moon-walkers left behind an American flag and a
plaque bearing the inscription: ``Here Men From Planet Earth First Set
Foot Upon the Moon. Jul. 1969 A.D. We Came in Peace for All Mankind.''
On April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into space
aboard the STS-31 mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery. The Hubble
has revolutionized astronomy while expanding our knowledge of the
universe and inspiring millions of scientists, students, and members of
the public with its unprecedented deep and clear images of space.''
Madam Speaker, in addition to these historic events, NASA has greatly
contributed to our understanding of our universe. In 1968, Apollo 8
took off atop a Saturn V booster from the Kennedy Space Center for a
historic mission to orbit the Moon. As Apollo 8 traveled outward, the
crew focused a portable television camera on Earth and for the first
time humanity saw its home from afar, a tiny, lovely, and fragile
``blue marble'' hanging in the blackness of space.
This transmission and viewing of Earth from a distance was an
enormously significant accomplishment and united the Nation at a time
when American society was in crisis over Vietnam, race relations, urban
problems, and a host of other difficulties.
The success of the United States space exploration program in the
20th Century augurs well for its continued leadership in the 21st
Century. This success is largely attributable to the remarkable and
indispensable partnership between the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and its 10 space and research centers. One of these
important research centers is located in my home city of Houston. The
Johnson Space Center, which manages the development, testing,
production, and delivery of all United States human spacecraft and all
human spacecraft-related functions, is one of the crown jewels of NASA
and a lodestar Houston area. The other nine research and space centers
are:
1. The Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley provides
products, technologies, and services that enable NASA missions and
expand human knowledge in areas as diverse as small spacecraft and
supercomputers, science missions and payloads, thermal protection
systems and information technology.
2. The Dryden Flight Research Center, the leading center for
innovative flight research.
3. The Glenn Research Center, which develops power, propulsion, and
communication technologies for space flight systems and aeronautics
research.
4. The Goddard Space Flight Center, which specializes in research to
expand knowledge on the Earth and its environment, the solar system,
and the universe through observations from space.
5. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the leading center for robotic
exploration of the Solar System.
6. The Kennedy Space Center, the gateway to the Universe and world
leader in preparing and launching missions around the Earth and beyond.
7. The Langley Research Center, which continues to forge new
frontiers in aviation and space research for aerospace, atmospheric
sciences, and technology commercialization to improve the way the world
lives.
8. The Marshall Space Flight Center, a world leader in developing
space transportation and propulsion systems, engineers the future to
accelerate exploration and scientific discovery.
9. The Stennis Space Center, which is responsible for rocket
propulsion testing and for partnering with industry to develop and
implement remote sensing technology.
NASA's stunning achievements over the last 50 years have been won for
all mankind at great cost and sacrifice. In the quest to explore the
universe, many NASA employees
[[Page H8924]]
have lost their lives, including the crews of Apollo 6, the Space
Shuttle Challenger, and the Space Shuttle Columbia.
The surcharge proceeds from the sale of a coin commemorating the
contributions of NASA will generate valuable funding for the NASA
Families Assistance Fund for the purposes of need-based financial
assistance to the families of NASA personnel who die as a result of
injuries suffered in the performance of their official duties. And
equally important, proceeds from the sale of commemorative coins will
also benefit the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Educational, DREME, Science
Literacy Foundation, which is dedicated to improving and strengthening
the process of teaching and learning science, math, and technology at
all educational levels, elementary through college through the
promotion of innovative educational programs.
This legislation also benefits the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for
Excellence which is dedicated to building critical thinking skills,
experiential teaching methods, science literacy, and integrated
approaches to learning and individual responsibility in achieving
excellence. The remainder of the proceeds after distribution to the
NASA Families Assistance Fund and the DREME and Jemison Foundations are
slated to go the Smithsonian Institution for the preservation,
maintenance, and display of space artifacts at the National Air and
Space Museum (including the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center).
Madam Speaker, in the centuries to come, when space travel will be
commonplace and America will have successfully led the way for humanity
to colonize and utilize the resources of other planets, these first 50
years of NASA's existence will be remembered as the most significant
era of human space exploration. It is, therefore, important that we
commemorate the great achievements of NASA's first 50 years.
In closing, Madam Speaker, let me also thank the Staff of the
Financial Services Committee on this legislation. I also wish to pay
special tribute to Yohannes Tsehai and Gregory Berry of my staff.
Without their valuable contributions this significant legislative
achievement would not have been possible. I strongly urge my colleagues
to join me in supporting this historic legislation.
Madam Speaker, at this time, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume in support of H.R. 2750.
I want to, first of all, thank the chairman of the committee,
Chairman Frank, for his insistence in bringing this bill to the floor
throughout this process. I want to thank my colleague from Houston,
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee. Thank you so much, Sheila. It's been
a pleasure working with you on this important bill honoring the 50th
anniversary of NASA, an organization whose exploration of outer space
has truly touched the lives and hearts, I think, of every American
today, can relate to the experience I know so many Americans had on the
31st of January, 1958, when the very first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1,
was launched into orbit. In response to the Soviet Union's launching of
Sputnik, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which had been set up under the
guidance of the United States Army, put together Explorer 1 and built
it and launched it. And before the year was out, Congress had created
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on December 3, 1958.
So next year is a golden anniversary for NASA, and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration has given the people of the United
States many, many things to be proud of. NASA has gone on to explore,
from that first launch of that first satellite, the entire solar system
and much of the visible universe with the help of the Hubble Space
Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope.
We now have telescopes in orbit, Madam Speaker, around the Earth that
have identified up to 160 planets around other solar systems. NASA has
discovered, with the Mars Rovers, that liquid water not only once
existed on the surface of Mars, but it appears that there are large
frozen lakes on Mars today.
We have landed on the surface of the moon, Titan. We not only landed
men on the moon with a very successful Apollo program, but we are
today, under President Bush's vision and the leadership of our new NASA
administrator, Mike Griffin, rapidly moving towards the day very soon
when men and women will return to the surface of the moon.
The accomplishments of NASA, JPL, and all of the research labs under
NASA are absolutely extraordinary, but this exploration has not come
without loss. As with all exploration that is new, it has been
dangerous. On January 27, 1967, America tragically lost three Apollo
astronauts on the launch pad because of a fire in Apollo I. Changes
were made to the program, and the spacecraft became much safer and we
moved on and beyond that terrible tragedy. And then of course we lost
the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986, with its entire crew,
a terrible day that I know many of us remember. And then most recently,
tragically, on February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia was lost
during reentry with its entire seven-man crew.
Therefore, in the design of this coin set, my coauthor and I,
Congresswoman Jackson-Lee, have proposed that the centerpiece of the
coin will be a $50 high-relief-proof gold piece that will honor the
lives of the astronauts who have lost their lives in the exploration of
space. On that $50 gold piece will be an image of the sun. Then
arranged around it will be nine silver-proof dollars, each one
representing a different planet in our solar system and each one
commemorating missions to that planet as put together by each of the
different NASA centers. And the silver dollar for the planet Earth will
of course have on the reverse side a design emblematic of the Apollo
mission as well as Earth orbital missions.
This commemorative coin set, Madam Speaker, is just one small piece
of ongoing work that Congress is doing in support of NASA. And it's
really difficult to measure the value of what NASA has done for the
United States and for all mankind in exploring space. Asking what NASA
has done for the United States and for all of humanity is a little like
the question facing Americans 200 years ago when Congress authorized
the Lewis and Clark Expedition. No one knew at the time what Lewis and
Clark might find. They didn't know what resources might lie out there.
They did not know what the unchartered blank spots on the western
American map would yield. And it was impossible, 200 years ago, to
measure the value of the discoveries, the minerals, the animal species,
the incredible new horizons that Lewis and Clark would discover; no way
to measure that.
And I think equally here today, Americans standing on the brink of
the 21st century cannot place a value or measure on the discoveries
that the men and women of NASA, our brave astronaut core and all the
scientists and engineers who work at NASA, the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Goddard, the Applied Physics Lab, and all the research
centers around the country that have helped the American space program
lead the world.
I am very proud to be a lead coauthor on this bill and helping honor
the men and women of NASA and the extraordinary discoveries that NASA
has made, and also to remind Americans of the value we each enjoy with
miniaturization of computers, medical technology, heart pumps, valves,
power generators, image processing, cell phone technology, CAT
scanners, MRI machines. All of the extraordinary technological
innovations that we touch on a daily basis have come from our work on
the space program.
I am proud to be here today with my coauthor, Congresswoman Sheila
Jackson-Lee, on a bill that is strongly supported in a bipartisan way.
It was passed unanimously last Congress. I am confident we will enjoy
that kind of support today for this coin set honoring NASA's 50th
anniversary.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield
such time as he might consume to the chairman of the Financial Services
Committee, Mr. Barney Frank. And I thank him so very much for his
leadership.
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, I am very happy to see
this bill here today; one, because it is important that we commemorate
NASA. And secondly, as a tribute to the persistence of the gentlewoman
from Houston and the gentleman from Houston, I am particularly glad
that we are passing this bill because it will mean I will get an extra
2 hours a week because I've spent about 2 hours a week talking to them
since January. So for both reasons, I am very happy that this very
worthy bill is about to pass
[[Page H8925]]
I submit the following correspondence:
Committee on Ways and Means
Washington, DC, July 30, 2007.
Hon. Barney Frank,
Chairman, Financial Services Committee,
Washington, DC.
Dear Barney: I am writing regarding H.R. 2750, the NASA
50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act.
As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains
jurisdiction over bills that raise revenue. H.R. 2750
contains a provision that establishes a surcharge for the
sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the bill,
and thus falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Ways and Means.
However, as part of our ongoing understanding regarding
commemorative coin bills and in order to expedite this bill
for Floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action.
This is being done with the understanding that it does not in
any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the
appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives
on this bill or similar legislation in the future.
I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 2750, and would ask
that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be
included in the record.
Sincerely,
Charles B. Rangel,
Chairman.
____
Committee on Financial Services,
Washington, DC. July 30, 2007.
Hon. Charles B. Rangel,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC.
Dear Charlie: I am writing in response to your letter
regarding H.R. 2750, the ``NASA 50th Anniversary
Commemorative Coin Act,'' which was introduced in the House
and referred to the Committee on Financial Services on June
15, 2007. It is my understanding that this bill be scheduled
for floor consideration shortly.
I wish to confirm our mutual understanding on this bill. As
you know, section 7 of the bill establishes a surcharge for
the sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the
bill. I acknowledge your committee's jurisdictional interest
in such surcharges as revenue matters. However, I appreciate
your willingness to forego committee action on H.R. 2750 in
order to allow the bill to come to the floor expeditiously. I
agree that your decision to forego further action on this
bill will not prejudice the Committee on Ways and Means with
respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this or similar
legislation. I would support your request for conferees on
those provisions within your jurisdiction should this bill be
the subject of a House-Senate conference.
I will include this exchange of letters in the
Congressional Record when this bill is considered by the
House. Thank you again for your assistance.
Barney Frank,
Chairman.
Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, I thank my coauthor, and I urge Members
of the House to pass this legislation honoring NASA's 50th anniversary.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. As I close, Madam Speaker, let me simply
put in the Record the different research centers that will be honored:
The Ames Research Center in California; Silicon Valley; the Dryden
Flight Research Center; the Glenn Research Center; the Goddard Space
Flight Center, that is our neighbor here in the Washington, D.C. area
and represented by our own majority leader, Mr. Hoyer, which I would
like to pay a special tribute and appreciation to, and to his staff and
his chief of staff; the Jet Propulsion Lab that is in California; the
Kennedy Space Center in Florida; the Langley Research Center; the
Marshall Space Flight Center; the Stennis Space Center; and of course
the Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston, Texas. All of these will be
recognized.
And certainly to the astronauts and certainly to the loved ones of
those fallen, and yet the future astronauts, who will be trained by
funding in this bill, I thank them again. Let me thank Mr. Obey of Mr.
Frank's staff, and my staff, Mr. Tsehai and Mr. Berry.
Mr. CULBERSON. Will the gentlewoman yield?
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I would be happy to yield.
Mr. CULBERSON. If I could yield quickly for a point of legislative
intent clarification.
I notice the intent of my cosponsor that these centers, and I agree
completely, they all need to be recognized and honored, but of course
the front of the coin is going to represent each one of the nine
planets. And it is your intent, as I know it is mine, that the reverse
of the coin reflect and honor the research center that contributed to
missions to that particular planet is what I'm confident you mean.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. The calling out of the names of the
centers, if I may reclaim my time, is to indicate that all of them are
part of the NASA family. And we are honoring NASA for its 50 years, so
we wanted to make sure all of them were counted in the Record.
Mr. CULBERSON. But in particular, in relation to those planets that
they led the effort to explore.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. That is correct.
Mr. CULBERSON. Thank you very much.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, we are hoping that all of
the young people will enjoy this coin, and we hope that it will further
science and exploration. I would ask my colleagues, and thanking my
cosponsor and the 300-plus Members of this House, in supporting this
bill.
I ask my colleagues to support this bill and move us forward in
science and opportunity for a greater future for this country
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to cosponsor H.R. 2750, which
directs the United States Treasury to create a commemorative coin
honoring the 50th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA). From the early space flights of the 1960s to
Neil Armstrong's ``small step for mankind'' to last year's successful
missions of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Space Shuttle Discovery,
NASA's has a long and impressive record of accomplishments that should
be a source of pride to all Americans.
As a representative of the Gulf Coast of Texas, which is home to many
of NASA's most significant triumphs, I have had the opportunity to meet
many NASA employees. I have always been impressed by their
professionalism and dedication to their mission.
What philosopher Ayn Rand wrote of the moon landing in 1969 applies
to all of NASA's missions: ``Think of what was required to achieve that
mission: think of the unpitying effort; the merciless discipline; the
courage; the responsibility of relying on one's judgment; the days,
nights and years of unswerving dedication to a goal; the tension of the
unbroken maintenance of a full, clear mental focus; and the honesty. It
took the highest, sustained acts of virtue to create in reality what
had only been dreamt of for millennia.'' I encourage all of my
colleagues and all Americans to join me in commending NASA for 50 years
of accomplishments by supporting H.R. 2750.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of
my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2750, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. 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.
____________________