Congressional Record, Volume 156 Issue 41 (Friday, March 19, 2010)

[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 41 (Friday, March 19, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1689-H1691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

RECOGNIZING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARIANA TRENCH DIVE

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1027) recognizing the
50th anniversary of the historic dive to the Challenger Deep in the
Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the world's oceans, on January 23,
1960, and its importance to marine research, ocean science, a better
understanding of the planet, and the future of human exploration.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:

H. Res. 1027

Whereas Captain Don Walsh, USN (ret.), Ph.D., and Jacques
Piccard piloted the United States Navy's Trieste bathyscaphe
to reach the deepest point in the world's oceans and remain
the only two humans to ever achieve this historic feat;
Whereas Captain Walsh is the recipient of two Presidential
Legion of Merit Awards and numerous honors and continues to
explore the world;
Whereas Jacques Piccard is a hero in his home country of
Switzerland;
Whereas Jacques Piccard passed away in November 2008, but
the Piccard Family contribution and influence to marine
science and exploration continues today;

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Whereas the Mariana Trench has been designated as the
Mariana Trench Marine National Monument and remains one of
the world's most ecological and environmental treasures; and
Whereas only five percent of the ocean floor has been
explored, but the need to continue to research the world's
oceans and educate the next generation of explorers remains
important to the United States in order to continue to unlock
the secrets of the earth's oceans and ecosystems: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the 50th anniversary of the dive to the
Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench and its valuable and
historic scientific contributions;
(2) recognizes the lifetime achievements of Capt. Don Walsh
and Jacques Piccard and their contributions to the
furtherance of ocean science, ocean engineering, human
exploration, and a better understanding of the planet;
(3) recognizes the Mariana Trench as one of the world's
great ocean classrooms and the need to continue to explore
its depths that can lead to great scientific discoveries; and
(4) recognizes the commitment of the United States to
continue to educate the future leaders in ocean science and
human exploration.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Olson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.

General Leave

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous materials on House Resolution 1027, the
resolution now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1027 recognizing the 50th
anniversary of the historic dive to the Challenger Deep in the Mariana
Trench, the deepest point in the world's oceans, on January 23, 1960,
and its importance to marine research, ocean science, a better
understanding of the planet, and the future of human exploration.
Today we recognize the achievements of Captain Don Walsh and Jacques
Piccard, who piloted the U.S. Navy's Trieste to reach the deepest point
of the world's oceans. They remain the only two humans to ever achieve
this historic feat.
Exploration of the ocean floor has led to and will continue to lead
to important breakthroughs in marine science. However, shockingly, only
5 percent of the ocean floor has been explored. We must continue to
encourage research and exploration of the world's oceans and must make
education of the next generation of ocean explorers a priority.
The Mariana Trench is truly one of the world's great ocean
classrooms, and I hope that as we remember this remarkable achievement,
we also remain committed to returning to the ocean floor in the future.
I am once again pleased to recognize the achievements of Captain Don
Walsh and Jacques Piccard, and I would like to thank Mr. Sablan for his
work on this resolution. I urge my colleagues to support this
resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 1027, recognizing the
50th anniversary of the historic dive to the Challenger Deep in the
Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the world's oceans, on January 23,
1960, and its importance to marine research, ocean science, and the
future of human exploration.
Human curiosity about our world is one of the driving forces that
compels exploration, and looking at the achievements of the last
several hundred years, the accelerated pace of exploration has been
propelled by our technological ingenuity and sheer courage. However, as
we rush towards conquering the next challenge, such as further manned
explorations into space under the Constellation Program, it is valuable
to occasionally stop and remember the great achievements of our past.
Only 5 percent of the ocean floor has been explored to date. The
Mariana Trench is the deepest known part of the world's oceans. It is
the meeting point of two tectonic plates underneath the Pacific Ocean.
This geologically active area reaches a maximum depth of over 36,000
feet below sea level. The lowest part of the trench, which itself is
over 1,500 miles long--nearly twice as long as my home State of Texas--
is called the Challenger Deep, so named after the vessel that explored
its depth.
To put this in perspective, imagine that if you were to take Mount
Everest, all 29,029 feet of her elevation, and place it at the bottom
of the Challenger Deep, the top of Mount Everest would still be over
7,000 feet below sea level.
The Challenger Deep was first discovered in 1875 during the
expedition of the HMS Challenger. Technology at that time prevented any
substantial investigation of this region of the ocean, but such
constraints have only encouraged humans to find new and innovative ways
to break through these barriers.
Eighty-five years after discovery, two brave men had the courage and
conviction to descend 5 hours in a converted submersible to reach the
very bottom of the trench. U.S. Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh and Swiss
oceanographer Jacques Piccard spent nearly 20 minutes at the bottom of
the Earth before they had to begin their ascent.
This feat has been accomplished twice more since that day 50 years
ago but with unmanned vehicles and far more advanced technology. Today
we stand in awe of their achievement and honor the courage they have
demonstrated in pushing the limits of human exploration. This act
encouraged further expeditions to explore the Earth's oceans just as
Alan Shepard's ride as the first American in space on Freedom 7
inspired us to reach for the stars.
Mr. Speaker, we honor these men and the many who have come before and
after by courageously taking the next step in exploration. This
resolution is as much about remembering our past as it is looking
toward the future, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as
he may consume to the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands,
Congressman Sablan.
Mr. SABLAN. I thank the distinguished gentlelady from Texas for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the author of House Resolution 1027 to
ask Members to join together to celebrate one of the most historic
scientific achievements in our Nation's history, and certainly one of
the most daringly courageous feats of exploration in all of human
history.
Fifty years ago on January 23, 1960, the United States Navy
submersible Trieste, piloted by U.S. Navy captain Don Walsh and by
Swiss engineer Jacques Piccard, dove 36,000 feet to the bottom of the
Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest known part of our
world's oceans. The Trieste dive--a manned descent into the Challenger
Deep--has never been repeated, and on only two occasions has an
unmanned vehicle penetrated into this abyss during the last 50 years.
Just think about that.
Over the last 50 years, responding to President Kennedy's challenge
to put men on the Moon, 12 Americans made that incredible journey,
reached that destination and put foot on the lunar surface. We have
sent satellite messengers out beyond our solar system to send back word
of what is there. We have established a permanent manned presence in
the space station circling the Earth. We have placed remarkable robotic
vehicles on our neighbor planet Mars, exceeding all expectation and for
years exploring that far-off world.
Yet, throughout this period of outer space exploration, the 80
percent of our work covered by the oceans--our inner space--remains
virtually unknown and unseen by human beings. Our Nation has stopped in
its track to witness the brave exploits of its outer space explorers
and lauded them as heroes.
Yet Captain Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard and the team of U.S. Naval
personnel who made the dive possible are virtually forgotten. H.R. 1027
aims to correct that. This resolution commemorating the 50th
anniversary of the Trieste dive is meant to shine a light on what these
brave men and

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their support team accomplished. This resolution is meant to inspire us
with the example of Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard and reinvigorate the
commitment of our Nation and this Congress to unlocking the secrets of
the oceans of this Earth, of which we know so little.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Piccard passed away in 2008. But Don Walsh is still
alive, and he remains in every way an adventurer. Next month in a
series of events, we will honor Mr. Walsh and the memory of Mr. Piccard
here in Washington. There will be a dinner at the National Geographic
Society, a reception at the Smithsonian, and press tours of the Trieste
herself, which is housed just down the street from the Capitol at the
U.S. Navy Yards. These events were scheduled for April, not January,
because Don Walsh has only just returned home from working and
exploring in Antarctica.
I encourage my fellow Members of the House to add to the honors that
will be accorded Captain Don Walsh next month by passage of House
Resolution 1027.
I also want to thank my colleagues, Ms. Bordallo and Mr. Farr, for
their cosponsorship of this resolution. Even more, I want to recognize
their continuing leadership in the protection of our oceans and the
advancement of the scientific understanding of our marine environment.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to call attention to the newly
designated Mariana Trench National Monument. This monument not only
contains the Mariana Trench where the Trieste descended, but also three
islands of my district--Uracas, Asuncion, and Farallon de Pajaros--as
well as a multitude of undersea volcanoes, upwellings of liquid carbon
dioxide, and other features believed unique in all the world.
The people of the Northern Mariana Islands are proud of this
environmental treasure and are committed to its protection so that it
may be a source of wonder to those who visit and of knowledge to those
who come there to explore and discover as Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard
did 50 years ago.

{time} 1430

Mr. OLSON. I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me express my
appreciation to all of the staff as well as the Members who brought
this forth.
I recommend that we support this resolution and pass it.
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. Eddie Bernice Johnson) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1027.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. 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.

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