[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 68 (Tuesday, May 5, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H5137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE CREW OF THE APOLLO 11 MISSION TO THE MOON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Grayson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I introduce 
legislation today to award the Congressional Gold Medal to four brave 
and exemplary Americans, Commander Neil A. Armstrong, command module 
pilot Michael Collins, and lunar module pilot Edwin ``Buzz'' Aldrin, 
the crew of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. Additionally, this 
legislation would award a Congressional Gold Medal to John Glenn, the 
first American to orbit the Earth and the man who helped set NASA 
firmly on the path of human space exploration.
  Forty years ago, 500 million people watched as Armstrong took those 
fateful steps on the Moon's surface, the first time that humans had 
ever set foot on another world. In words that were as poetic as the 
occasion was meaningful, Armstrong said, ``That is one small step for 
man and one great leap for mankind.'' He was shortly followed 
thereafter on the Moon's surface by Aldrin as Collins circled overhead.
  I was 11 years old that day, and I watched the Moon landing, joining 
much of humanity in celebrating this tremendous collective 
accomplishment. My family was on vacation, but I persuaded my parents 
to let me stay in the hotel room alone all day and watch television so 
that I could see these giant men take those giant steps. Their mission 
was a landmark for America, for the world, and for all time. Americans 
are still inspired by these men and their mission to travel over a 
quarter of a million miles of dead space to reach our closest celestial 
neighbor. I remember at the time thinking that humankind as a species 
is capable of true greatness. And while wolves howl at the Moon, humans 
visit it.
  On this journey, the Apollo 11 crew showed remarkable bravery, 
protected for days from the lifeless vacuum by only a thin metal shell. 
They collected more than 40 pounds of lunar samples, took photographs 
and deployed experiments to study the solar wind, lunar dust, enable 
laser ranging and forever carry out passive seismic measurements that 
remain measurable to this day.
  Their footprints remain on the Moon today and forever. The entire 
endeavor was a culmination of an intensive effort by tens of thousands 
of scientists, engineers and other dedicated individuals to meet the 
challenge laid down by President John F. Kennedy 8 years earlier. 
President Kennedy encouraged Americans to rise to challenges like this 
one, and the American people responded with ingenuity, discipline and a 
spirit of collective effort. This journey took political will, 
scientific and technological risk-taking, inspiration and the heart and 
soul of millions of Americans who supported this space program.

                              {time}  1630

  And it took the competence and courage of these men, Armstrong, 
Aldrin and Collins, to make Apollo 11 the success that it was.
  As the culmination of the U.S.-Soviet space race that commenced with 
the Soviet's launch of Sputnik in 1957, Apollo 11's success signified 
the United States' ability to establish preeminence in space.
  It also helped to inspire a generation to pursue careers in science 
and engineering, and to believe in the power of American society and 
American culture. Alone in that hotel room watching TV, I certainly 
felt a lasting sense of meaning, that connection to those three brave 
astronauts.
  These astronauts represented in that moment America's destiny, a 
destiny shared by the thousands of men and women who worked to make it 
happen.
  This includes John Glenn, of course, another brave pioneer of human 
space exploration who had made their journey possible.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is fitting that on this 40th anniversary year 
of the Apollo 11 mission, we grant these four brave Americans the 
recognition only this Congress can bestow, the Congressional Gold 
Medal. That's why I am introducing legislation to that effect today.
  I am pleased to be joined in this initiative by the chairman of the 
House Science and Technology Committee, Bart Gordon; the chairwoman of 
the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, Gabrielle Giffords; Committee 
Ranking Member Ralph Hall; Subcommittee Ranking Member Pete Olson; and 
Florida Members Suzanne Kosmas and Bill Posey.
  I believe this recognition is long overdue, and I urge my colleagues 
to support this legislation so it can be enacted into law.

                          ____________________