[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;

[[Page H1690]]

       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

[[Page H1691]]

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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