[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 171 (Monday, December 31, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H7485-H7491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NEIL A. ARMSTRONG FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER AND HUGH L. DRYDEN
AERONAUTICAL TEST RANGE DESIGNATION ACT
Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6612) to redesignate the Dryden Flight Research Center as
the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center and the Western
Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6612
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION OF DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER.
(a) Redesignation.--The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center
in Edwards, California, is redesignated as the ``NASA Neil A.
Armstrong Flight Research Center''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
flight research center referred to in subsection (a) shall be
deemed to be a reference to the ``NASA Neil A. Armstrong
Flight Research Center''.
SEC. 2. REDESIGNATION OF WESTERN AERONAUTICAL TEST RANGE.
(a) Redesignation.--The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) Western Aeronautical Test Range in
California is redesignated as the ``NASA Hugh L. Dryden
Aeronautical Test Range''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
test range referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to
be a reference to the ``NASA Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test
Range''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Hall) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
{time} 1100
General Leave
Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
shall have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6612, the bill now
under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I want to begin by thanking, as I should, the Members for their
bipartisan support of the legislation. H.R. 6612 would redesignate the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Dryden Flight Research
Center, which is co-located with the Edwards Air Force Base in the
Antelope Valley of California, as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research
Center. The bill would also rename the Western Aeronautical Test Range
as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range. This is very
appropriate; they were very dear friends.
Neil Armstrong needs no introduction. Actually, this bill was
introduced by his congressman, Kevin McCarthy, the congressman where
the redesignation will take place. The gentleman from California is the
majority whip, but Neil Armstrong absolutely needs no introduction.
He's an iconic American hero, and one of the most humble men I've ever
met. He was quiet, thoughtful, and deliberate, choosing his words
carefully, whether it was testifying before a congressional committee,
giving a speech, or sharing a quiet movement with a friend. He did not
exaggerate, and always, always gave recognition to the teams of
engineers, technicians, and scientists at NASA and in industry when
speaking
[[Page H7486]]
about the success of the Apollo 11 mission. He refused to take personal
credit for his accomplishments.
Naming the flight center after Neil is very appropriate. After
graduating from college, Neil joined NASA's predecessor agency, the
National Advisory Council on Aeronautics, and soon found himself at
NACA's High Speed Flight Station located at Edwards, which in time
would become the Dryden Flight Research Center. He spent 7 years there
flying a variety of new design and high-performance aircraft, including
seven flights at the controls of the X-15.
Neil was a good friend, and is sorely missed by me and by all of the
people he touched during his long and active life. He is survived by
his wife, Carol; his two sons, Mark and Rick; a stepson and a
stepdaughter; 10 grandchildren; and a brother and sister.
The bill also names the Western Aeronautical Test Range after Dr.
Hugh L. Dryden. He held the position of director of the National
Advisory Council on Aeronautics from 1947 until it was renamed NASA in
1958, and was deputy director of NASA until his death in 1965.
Dr. Dryden did pioneering research on airfoils near the speed of
sound and the problems of airflow and turbulence. His work greatly
contributed to the designs of wings for aircraft, including the P-51
Mustang and other World War II aircraft.
Before I close, I want to tell something that was rather interesting.
President Clinton, I think it was on the 25th anniversary, invited Neil
to speak, knowing that he probably wouldn't speak because he had
indicated that he would not. But he left an empty chair for him on the
stage. And as we got through the ceremony, Neil walked in. And the
President, good natured, said, Well, I said you wouldn't speak, but
here's the microphone.
Neil took the microphone and said, The parrot is the only bird that
can fly and speak, and I can do the same.
Then he sat down, and it brought the house down.
I urge Members to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. EDWARDS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, all Americans can recite those famous words uttered by
Neil Armstrong 43 years ago as he became the first human to walk on the
Moon. Those words, as all Americans know were, ``That's one small step
for man, one giant leap for mankind.''
In an effort to recognize that great man, H.R. 6612 has been offered
to redesignate the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's
Dryden Flight Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research
Center. The bill would also rename the Western Aeronautical Test Range
as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.
While I plan to support it, this is a bill that is a bit unfortunate
since it honors one aerospace pioneer by stripping away the honor
previously extended to another worthy pioneer. Both are worthy of
recognition. Their accomplishments at NASA and for the Nation are
without parallel.
Dr. Hugh Latimer Dryden was director of the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics from 1947 until the creation of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, and was named deputy
administrator of the new aerospace agency when it was created in
response to the Sputnik crisis.
Dr. Dryden made numerous technical contributions to research in high-
speed aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, and acoustics, and published more
than 100 technical papers and articles in professional journals. NASA's
Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, was named in
honor of him on March 26, 1976. The center is NASA's premier site for
aeronautical flight research.
Neil Armstrong joined NACA, the advisory committee, in 1955 following
his service as a naval aviator. Over the next 17 years, he was an
engineer, test pilot, astronaut, and administrator for the committee
and its successor agency, NASA.
As a research pilot, he flew over 200 different models of aircraft,
such as the storied X-15. He transferred to astronaut status in 1962,
and was command pilot for the Gemini VIII mission when he performed the
first successful docking of two vehicles in space. As spacecraft
commander for Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing mission, Neil
Armstrong inspired millions around the world. He inspired me. And he
passed away just this past August.
Madam Speaker, it's clear that Neil Armstrong never sought the honor
of having a NASA center named after him while he was alive. And the
truth is, his name is going to live long throughout history whether or
not we ever name anything for him. I expect that today we will approve
this legislation, and that's fine. But I hope that all the Members who
vote to honor him today will remember his testimony before the House
Science, Space, and Technology Committee. I know that our chairman, Mr.
Hall, will remember that during that testimony he argued eloquently for
the critical importance of giving NASA a sustainable future and a human
exploration program that can once again inspire our children and
humanity around the world.
It seems rather extraordinary that even as we're honoring our hero,
Neil Armstrong, that we face a situation where NASA's budget would be
decimated, gutting the very programs that Neil Armstrong felt so
passionately about. And if the same Members who vote to honor him today
will commit to working in the coming months and years for those
exploration goals, to those heights to which he devoted the last years
of his life, then we will have truly honored Neil Armstrong in an
enduring and meaningful way.
And with that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the very capable
majority whip, the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy).
Mr. McCARTHY of California. Madam Speaker, to the committee, thank
you for your work, and especially to Chairman Hall for his tenure on
the committee and his history-making here in Congress. I thank you.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6612 to honor two
great pioneers in American aeronautics and space exploration, Dr. Hugh
Dryden and astronaut Neil Armstrong.
Some of us here today can remember the pride every American felt in
the summer of 1969 when we heard Neil Armstrong utter those famous
words, ``that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,''
when he led the Apollo 11 mission and landed on the Moon.
Before this incredible trip, Armstrong served as a test pilot for 7
years at what is presently called the NASA Dryden Flight Research
Center in Kern County, California, which I'm proud to represent.
Armstrong accumulated 2,400 hours of flying as a test pilot there,
mainly in experimental jets. He was also part of the team in the early
1960s that researched how to land on the Moon using the Lunar Landing
Research Vehicle.
After the success of Apollo 11, Armstrong became NASA's deputy
associate administrator for aeronautics. Under Armstrong's leadership,
the center had one of its most far-reaching technological breakthroughs
in a concept called digital fly-by-wire, the precursor to computerized
flight control systems used on nearly all military and civilian high-
performance aircraft, including the space shuttles.
At NASA's Dryden 50th anniversary, Armstrong said in his speech: ``My
years here were wonderful years. Dryden was a most unusual place--its
enormous curiosity, wonderful intensity, and its unbelievable
willingness to attempt the impossible here.''
H.R. 6612 would rename the center in his honor the Neil A. Armstrong
Flight Research Center.
{time} 1110
The bill would also honor Dr. Hugh Dryden's contributions to
aerospace engineering, some that made Neil Armstrong's achievements
possible.
Dr. Dryden was an early pioneer in aerodynamics and helped with many
scientific breakthroughs, including the X-15 aircraft that launched
some test pilots to careers as astronauts, including Neil Armstrong.
Dr. Dryden was chosen to be NASA's first deputy administrator in
1958, placing him in charge of the programs that allowed the Agency to
send those three brave men to the Moon in 1969. Dr. Dryden passed away
in 1965, just a few years before his work was fulfilled and Armstrong
took that first small step.
[[Page H7487]]
H.R. 6612 will memorialize both men by redesignating the Dryden
Flight Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center
and the Western Aeronautic Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden
Aeronautical Test Range.
Edwards Air Force Base, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, and the
NASA Flight Research Center in east Kern County remain a hub of
scientific discovery, aeronautical innovation, and space exploration. I
look forward to many more groundbreaking achievements from the men and
women inspired by the legacy of Neil Armstrong and Hugh Dryden.
Madam Speaker, I will insert the following letters of support for my
bill into the Record. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting
this bill.
SPACEX,
Washington, DC, December 13, 2012.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman McCarthy: I am writing to express SpaceX's
support for your recently introduced legislation, H.R. 6612,
to redesignate the Dryden Flight Research Center as the Neil
A. Armstrong Flight Research Center.
Throughout his extraordinary life, Neil Armstrong served as
an inspiration to the nation and to the world, as a leader,
explorer, and educator. His historic voyage to the Moon in
1969 opened the cosmos and created a legacy of greatness that
will be forever remembered by all those in the pursuit of
discovery.
By renaming the Center, you are honoring Neil Armstrong's
life of achievements every day with the groundbreaking
science conducted there. SpaceX and our more than 2,200
employees applaud this important legislation and are proud to
look to Commander Armstrong's outstanding character every day
as we take our first steps into space.
Sincerely,
Tim Hughes,
Senior Vice President & General Counsel.
____
EAFB
Civ-Mil Support Group,
Lancaster, CA.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman McCarthy, The Edwards Air Force Base
Civilian/Military Support Group wishes to convey to you its
support of an initiative to change the designation of the
``NASA Dryden Flight Research Center'' at Edwards AFB, Ca. to
the ``Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center'' and the
designation of the ``Western Aeronautical Test Range'' as the
``Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.''
Founded over 24 years ago, our organization is the only
non-profit group dedicated exclusively to supporting the men
and women, both civilian and military, who serve at Edwards
AFB. As such, we feel it is entirely fitting that the NASA
Dryden Flight Research Center be re-named in honor of Neil A.
Armstrong, a decorated naval aviator and flight test pioneer
who faithfully served our nation in both civilian and
military capacities. Additionally, Mr. Armstrong enjoyed
close ties to both the flight test community at Edwards AFB
and the local Antelope Valley civilian community. In fact,
many of his former colleagues still reside here and speak
fondly of Mr. Armstrong and his contributions to this nation.
We would like to also recognize that the contributions to
this country made by Hugh L. Dryden are many and of worthy
distinction in their own right and we do not wish to detract
from such a distinguished legacy. Therefore, out of respect
for Mr. Dryden's living family members and in order to
preserve his memory we feel it is entirely appropriate to re-
name the Western Aeronautical Test Range in his honor.
Our nation is in dire need of programs that build on a
solid base of science, mathematics and engineering in order
to keep pace with our ever expanding technology. We feel the
re-designation of these two assets will help to inspire
future generations of aviators, scientists and engineers.
For the above reasons, the Edwards AFB Civilian/Military
Support Group joins with our legislative offices and other
community organizations in supporting the proposed name
change to the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center and
Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.
Thank you for your efforts in pushing this initiative
forward in Congress and we wish you great success.
Sincerely,
Danny A. Bazzell,
President, Edwards AFB
Civilian/Military Support Group.
____
Mojave Air & Space Port,
Mojave, CA, November 27, 2012.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman McCarthy, Mojave Air & Space Port strongly
supports a Resolution in favor of the proposed name change of
the current NASA Dryden Flight Research Center to the Neil A.
Armstrong Flight Research Center and Western Aeronautical
Test Range to the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.
It is most appropriate that Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong be
honored and memorialized in this way with his noted lifelong
accomplishments as the first human to walk on the moon and as
a former test pilot who worked at the Dryden Flight Research
Center for seven years (1955-1962) as well as emphasis on the
contributions of the center to the agency's space exploration
mission.
The Resolution recognizes the importance of this center in
advancing technology and science through flight research and
technology integration to revolutionizing aviation and
pioneering aerospace technology as well as space exploration.
We feel that this would be an extraordinary honor for Neil
Armstrong by strongly encouraging and supporting the passage
of this legislation to honor his memory as well as
acknowledging the accomplishments of Hugh L. Dryden by
renaming the aeronautical test range in his honor.
Sincerely,
Stuart O. Witt,
Chief Executive Officer.
____
Sacramento, CA, November 28, 2012.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman McCarthy: Thank you for introducing
legislation to recognize Neil Armstrong and Hugh Dryden's
enormous contributions to our national space program and the
aerospace community in the Antelope Valley.
Designating the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration's (NASA) Dryden Flight Research Center as the
Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center and the Western
Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical
Test Range honors both of these individuals appropriately and
in a way that highlights the contributions they have made.
Aerospace is an ever changing, constantly advancing field.
In the same way it was right to redesignate the former Lewis
Research Center in Ohio to honor John Glenn's achievements
and contributions, it is right to do so to honor Neil
Armstrong and Hugh Dryden at the Edwards AFB facility.
On behalf of the nine million California residents,
including the aerospace communities in the high desert areas
of Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, I fully
support H.R. 6612 and encourage all our federal
representatives to join and support your legislation. Thank
you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
George Runner,
Member, California State
Board of Equalization.
____
Greater Antelope Valley
Economic Alliance,
Lancaster, CA, December 5, 2012.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman McCarthy: On behalf of the Board of
Directors of the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance
(GAVEA), I'm requesting your support of an initiative to
designate the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards,
Calif., the NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center and
to designate NASA's Western Aeronautical Test Range the NASA
Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.
GAVEA has been a supporter of the flight test missions at
Edwards since our inception in 2000. In light of NASA's
current mission to ``extend the frontiers of space
exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics
research,'' we can think of no other person than Neil
Armstrong whose name has the ability to inspire the next
generation of researchers, scientists and space explorers.
In addition, Mr. Armstrong had strong ties to both the
center and the local community and lived an extraordinary
life of service not only to his country as a test pilot and
astronaut, but also as an educator. Recognition of his
contribution to the nation is long overdue. Many of his
former colleagues from the center still reside in our
community and can attest to his reputation for exemplary
values as well as technical and operational excellence.
With due consideration, we acknowledge that Dr. Hugh Dryden
also made a significant contribution to the NASA center at
Edwards. However, few people today, especially young people,
are able to make an immediate connection to his name. We
believe it is important to preserve his legacy and that
naming the Aeronautical Test Range after him would be a
fitting tribute to his memory and to his living family
members. It is a far more imperative mandate, however, to do
what we can now to inspire math and science education though
the center so that the important mission at NASA continues
into the future. A fresh face on the facility at Edwards, in
our opinion, will accomplish that objective.
The Board of Directors of GAVEA wholeheartedly join our
local legislators in endorsing this name change that reflects
the outstanding successes of the center for over 60 years. We
thank you for your effort to advance this initiative in
Congress in the weeks to come.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jackie Fisher,
GAVEA, Chairman.
[[Page H7488]]
____
Palmdale Chamber of Commerce,
Palmdale, CA, November 28, 2012.
On behalf of the Palmdale Chamber of Commerce, I want to
share our support for the name change of NASA's Dryden Flight
Research Center.
The Palmdale Chamber of Commerce has always been supportive
of and, has been a beneficiary of, aerospace and space
exploration brought about through the work of NASA. My
personal dealings with NASA have led me to believe that they
have done their due diligence in educating the population on
who Hugh Dryden was however, many still do not know, nor will
they ever know the impact of his work.
For this reason, the Palmdale Chamber of Commerce is
supportive of a name change to NASA's Dryden Flight Research
Center. A change in name to the Neil A. Armstrong Flight
Research Center brings familiarity to NASA and in name alone
will lend itself to increased interest in NASA's mission at
the Flight Research Center.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jeff McElfresh,
CEO, Palmdale Chamber of Commerce.
____
Antelope Valley Board of Trade,
Lancaster, CA, Nov. 27, 2012.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
Cannon House Office Building,
Washington DC.
Dear Congressman McCarthy: The Antelope Valley Board of
Trade wishes to express to you its support of an initiative
to designate the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at
Edwards, Calif., the NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research
Center and to designate NASA's Western Aeronautical Test
Range the NASA Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.
Our organization has been has been a supporter of the
flight test missions at Edwards since the late 1950s. To that
effect, we have seen numerous name changes of the NASA
facility over the years, and we feel that the timing is right
to move the center into a new era. In light of NASA's current
mission to ``extend the frontiers of space exploration,
scientific discovery, and aeronautics research'' we can think
of no other person than Neil Armstrong whose name has the
ability to inspire the next generation of researchers,
scientists and space explorers.
In addition, Mr. Armstrong had strong ties both to the
center and to the local community and lived an extraordinary
life of service not only to his country as a test pilot and
astronaut, but also as an educator. Recognition of his
contribution to the nation is long overdue. Many of his
former colleagues from the center still reside in our
community and can attest to his reputation for exemplary
values as well as technical and operational excellence.
With due consideration, we acknowledge that Dr. Hugh Dryden
also made a significant contribution to the NASA center at
Edwards. However, few people today, especially young people,
are able to make an immediate connection to his name. We
believe it is important to preserve his legacy and that
naming the Aeronautical Test Range after him would be a
fitting tribute to his memory and to his living family
members. It is a far more imperative mandate, however, to do
what we can now to inspire math and science education through
the center so that the important mission at NASA continues
into the future. A fresh face on the facility at Edwards, in
our opinion, will accomplish that objective.
We join our local legislators in endorsing this name change
that reflects the outstanding successes of the center for
over 60 years. We thank you for your efforts to advance this
initiative in Congress in the weeks to come.
For over fifty-three years the mission of the Antelope
Valley Board of Trade has been ``to promote diverse business
and industry, quality infrastructures, and a strong
legislative voice for the benefit of our members and the
greater Antelope Valley.''
Sincerely,
Vicki Medina,
Executive Director.
____
Kern County Board of Supervisors,
Bakersfield, CA, December 4, 2012.
Hon. Barbara Boxer,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Boxer: The Kern County Board of Supervisors
supports legislation by Rep. Kevin McCarthy to redesignate
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA)
Dryden Flight Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight
Research Center and the Western Aeronautical Test Range as
the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.
The legislation will accomplish three important goals: (1)
to honor and memorialize Neil A. Armstrong, the first human
to walk on the Moon and a former test pilot who worked at the
Center for seven years (1955-1962), (2) to emphasize the
contributions of that Center to the agency's space
exploration mission, and (3) to continue to memorialize the
extraordinary career of Hugh F. Dryden by renaming the
aeronautical test range (approximately 12,000 square miles of
special use airspace) in his honor.
Neil Armstrong's career in test flight began at Edwards Air
Force Base. At the time he became an astronaut, Armstrong had
logged 2,400 hours of flying time as a test pilot at Edwards,
about 900 of the hours in jets. Armstrong was the only member
of his class of astronauts who had flown in any rocket-
powered aircraft, notably the X-15. which he piloted seven
times at the Center.
While still a test pilot at the NASA Flight Test Center in
the early 1960s, Armstrong was part of a team that
conceptualized the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV), a
flight test article that proved critically important in
learning what would be required to pilot a spacecraft to a
lunar landing. The LLRV evolved into the Lunar Landing
Training Vehicle in which Armstrong and all other commanders
of Apollo lunar landing missions trained for their descents
from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon.
At the conclusion of Apollo 11, Armstrong left his
astronaut duties and became NASA's Deputy Associate
Administrator for Aeronautics. In this post he oversaw the
aeronautical research programs being conducted at the Center
and took a lead role in the Center's work on the new
technology of digital fly-by-wire (DFBW), a concept for
flying an airplane electronically. NASA considers DFBW
technology to be one of the most far-reaching research
technology breakthroughs that its Flight Research Center has
made in its 60-year history. DFBW technology was the
forerunner of the computerized flight control systems used on
nearly all modern high performance aircraft, on military and
civilian transports, and on the space shuttles.
Given Commander Armstrong's extraordinary career and his
close association with Edwards Air Force Base, our Board
believes it is appropriate to redesignate the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Dryden Flight
Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research
Center, and that it is equally appropriate to re-designate
the Western Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden
Aeronautical Test Range. We respectfully request your strong
support for this legislation.
Sincerely,
Zack Scrivner,
Chairman.
____
Kern County Board of Supervisors,
Bakersfield, CA, December 4, 2012.
Hon. Jim Costa,
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Costa: The Kern County Board of
Supervisors supports legislation by Rep. Kevin McCarthy to
redesignate the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration's (NASA) Dryden Flight Research Center as the
Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center and the Western
Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical
Test Range.
The legislation will accomplish three important goals: (1)
to honor and memorialize Neil A, Armstrong. the first human
to walk on the Moon and a former test pilot who worked at the
Center for seven years (1955-1962), (2) to emphasize the
contributions of that Center to the agency's space
exploration mission, and (3) to continue to memorialize the
extraordinary career of Hugh L. Dryden by renaming the
aeronautical test range (approximately 12,000 square miles of
special use airspace) in his honor.
Neil Armstrong's career in test flight began at Edwards Air
Force Base. At the time he became an astronaut. Armstrong had
logged 2,400 hours of flying time as a test pilot at Edwards,
about 900 of the hours in jets. Armstrong was the only member
of his class of astronauts who had flown in any rocket-
powered aircraft, notably the X-15, which he piloted seven
times at the Center.
While still a test pilot at the NASA Flight Test Center in
the early 1960s, Armstrong was part of a team that
conceptualized the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV), a
flight test article that proved critically important in
learning what would be required to pilot a spacecraft to a
lunar landing. The LLRV evolved into the Lunar Landing
Training Vehicle in which Armstrong and all other commanders
of Apollo lunar landing missions trained for their descents
from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon.
At the conclusion of Apollo 11, Armstrong left his
astronaut duties and became NASA's Deputy Associate
Administrator for Aeronautics. In this post he oversaw the
aeronautical research programs being conducted at the Center
and took a lead role in the Center's work on the new
technology of digital fly-by-wire (DFBW), a concept for
flying an airplane electronically. NASA considers DFBW
technology to be one of the most far-reaching research
technology breakthroughs that its Flight Research Center has
made in its 60-year history. DFBW technology was the
forerunner of the computerized flight control systems used on
nearly all modern high performance aircraft, on military and
civilian transports, and on the space shuttles.
Given Commander Armstrong's extraordinary career and his
close association with Edwards Air Force Base, our Board
believes it is appropriate to redesignate the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Dryden Flight
Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research
Center, and that it is equally appropriate to re-designate
the Western Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden
Aeronautical Test Range. We respectfully request your strong
support for this legislation.
Sincerely,
Zack Scrivner,
Chairman.
[[Page H7489]]
____
Kern County Board of Supervisors,
Bakersfield, CA, December 4, 2012.
Hon. Dianne Feinstein,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Feinstein: The Kern County Board of
Supervisors supports legislation by Rep. Kevin McCarthy to
redesignate the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration's (NASA) Dryden Flight Research Center as the
Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center and the Western
Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical
Test Range.
The legislation will accomplish three important goals: (1)
to honor and memorialize Neil A. Armstrong, the first human
to walk on the Moon and a former test pilot who worked at the
Center for seven years (1955-1962), (2) to emphasize the
contributions of that Center to the agency's space
exploration mission, and (3) to continue to memorialize the
extraordinary career of Hugh L. Dryden by renaming the
aeronautical test range (approximately 12,000 square miles of
special use airspace) in his honor.
Neil Armstrong's career in test flight began at Edwards Air
Force Base. At the time he became an astronaut, Armstrong had
logged 2,400 hours of flying time as a test pilot at Edwards,
about 900 of the hours in jets. Armstrong was the only member
of his class of astronauts who had flown in any rocket-
powered aircraft, notably the X-15, which he piloted seven
times at the Center.
While still a test pilot at the NASA Flight Test Center in
the early 1960s, Armstrong was part of a team that
conceptualized the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV), a
flight test article that proved critically important in
learning what would be required to pilot a spacecraft to a
lunar landing. The LLRV evolved into the Lunar Landing
Training Vehicle in which Armstrong and all other commanders
of Apollo lunar landing missions trained for their descents
from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon.
At the conclusion of Apollo 11, Armstrong, left his
astronaut duties and became NASA's Deputy Associate
Administrator for Aeronautics. In this post he oversaw the
aeronautical research programs being conducted at the Center
and took a lead role in the Center's work on the new
technology of digital fly-by-wire (DFBW), a concept for
flying an airplane electronically. NASA considers DFBW
technology to be one of the most far-reaching research
technology breakthroughs that its Flight Research Center has
made in its 60-year history. DFBW technology was the
forerunner of the computerized flight control systems used on
nearly all modern high performance aircraft, on military and
civilian transports, and on the space shuttles.
Given Commander Armstrong's extraordinary career and his
close association with Edwards Air Force Base, our Board
believes it is appropriate to re-designate the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Dryden Flight
Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research
Center, and that it is equally appropriate to redesignate the
Western Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden
Aeronautical Test Range. We respectfully request your strong
support for this legislation.
Sincerely,
Jack Scrivner,
Chairman.
____
Kern County Board of Supervisors,
Bakersfield, CA, December 4, 2012.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman McCarthy: The Kern County Board of
Supervisors supports your legislation to redesignate the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Dryden
Flight Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight
Research Center and the Western Aeronautical Test Range as
the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.
The legislation will honor and memorialize Neil A.
Armstrong, the first human to walk on the Moon and a former
test pilot who worked at the Center for seven years (1955-
1962); emphasize the contributions of that Center to the
agency's space exploration mission, and continue to
memorialize the extraordinary career of Hugh L. Dryden by
renaming the aeronautical test range (approximately 12,000
square miles of special use airspace) in his honor.
Neil Armstrong's career in test flight began at Edwards Air
Force Base. At the time he became an astronaut, Armstrong had
logged 2,400 hours of flying time as a test pilot at Edwards,
about 900 of the hours in jets. Armstrong was the only member
of his class of astronauts who had flown in any rocket-
powered aircraft, notably the X-15, which he piloted seven
times at the Center.
While still a test pilot at the NASA Flight Test Center in
the early 1960s, Armstrong was part of a team that
conceptualized the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV), a
flight test article that proved critically important in
learning what would be required to pilot a spacecraft to a
lunar landing. The LLRV evolved into the Lunar Landing
Training Vehicle in which Armstrong and all other commanders
of Apollo lunar landing missions trained for their descents
from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon.
At the conclusion of Apollo 11, Commander Armstrong left
his astronaut duties and became NASA's Deputy Associate
Administrator for Aeronautics. In this post he oversaw the
aeronautical research programs being conducted at the Center
and took a lead role in the Center's work on the new
technology of digital fly-by-wire (DFBW), a concept for
flying an airplane electronically. NASA considers DFBW
technology to be one of the most far-reaching research
technology breakthroughs that its Flight Research Center has
made in its 60-year history. DFBW technology was the
forerunner of the computerized flight control systems used on
nearly all modern high performance aircraft, on military and
civilian transports, and on the space shuttles.
Given Commander Armstrong's extraordinary career and his
close association with Edwards Air Force Base, our Board
believes it is appropriate to redesignate the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Dryden Flight
Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research
Center, and that it is equally appropriate to redesignate the
Western Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden
Aeronautical Test Range. We therefore offer our strong
support for your legislation.
Sincerely,
Zack Scrivner,
Chairman,
____
City of Palmdale,
Palmdale, CA, December 3, 2012.
Congressman Kevin McCarthy,
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman McCarthy: The City of Palmdale is pleased
to support your legislature proposal to re-designate NASA
Dryden Flight Research Center in honor of Neil A. Armstrong.
The Antelope Valley, including Palmdale, is known for its
rich aviation history and heritage, largely resulting from
operations at Air Force Plant 42 and Edwards Air Force Base
including NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. Our residents
and local businesses are involved in making extensive
contributions to our nation in the fields of space
exploration, national defense, aeronautics and other
scientific discovery.
With NASA's new vision for space exploration, there is a
need to inspire the next generation of scientists and
researchers to explore space. The proposed name change will
accomplish two important goals: to honor Neil Armstrong, test
pilot and Apollo 11 astronaut who was the first person to
walk on the Moon and a former test pilot at the Center, as
well as to emphasize the contributions of the Center to the
Agency's space exploration mission.
Again, I applaud your efforts and thank you for introducing
this legislation and your ongoing support of the Antelope
Valley.
Sincerely
James C. Ledford, Jr.,
Mayor.
____
City of California City, City Hall,
California City, CA, November 28, 2012.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
Cannon House Office Building, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman McCarthy: The City of California City
whole heartedly supports and indorses the proposed name
change of the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center to the Neil
A. Armstrong Flight Research Center in honor of Neil
Armstrong's lifelong service to his country and the expansion
of space exploration.
The rich history of NASA and it's relationship with Mr.
Armstrong which lead to his accomplishments throughout his
career inspire the ``Can Do'' attitude that makes America the
nation of leaders that others constantly strive to emulate.
We applaud your efforts to make this a realization so that
future Americans will continue to recognize this pioneer's
efforts whenever they come in contact with the NASA's Flight
Research Center.
Sincerely,
William T. Weil, Jr.,
City Manager.
____
Lancaster, CA,
November 29, 2012.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy,
Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman McCarthy: The Antelope Valley Board of
Trade wishes to express to you its support of an initiative
to designate the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at
Edwards, California the NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight
Research Center and to designate NASA's Western Aeronautical
Test Range the NASA Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.
Our organization has been a long-time supporter of the
flight test missions at Edwards. To that effect, we have seen
numerous name changes of the NASA facility over the years,
and we feel that the timing is right to move the center into
a new era. In light of NASA's current mission to ``extend the
frontiers of space exploration, scientific discovery, and
aeronautics research'', we can think of no other person than
Neil Armstrong whose name has the ability to inspire the next
generation of researchers, scientists, and space explorers.
In addition, Mr. Armstrong had strong ties both to the
center and to the local community and lived an extraordinary
life of service not only to his country as a test pilot and
astronaut, but also as an educator. Recognition of his
contribution to the nation is long overdue. Many of his
former colleagues from the center still reside in our
community and can attest to his reputation for exemplary
values as well as technical and operational excellence.
[[Page H7490]]
We join our local legislators in endorsing this name change
that reflects the outstanding successes of the center for
over 60 years. We thank you for your efforts to advance this
initiative in Congress in the weeks to come.
Sincerely,
R. Rex Parris,
Mayor.
Ms. EDWARDS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).
Mr. KUCINICH. Neil Armstrong's voyage to the Moon represented a
personal heroic journey, and it was also expressive of a uniquely
American capability and capacity to reach higher and higher, to expand
our horizons, to seek newer worlds, and to do that with a sense of
wonder and in peace. May we regain that capacity through recognizing
him today.
Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas, Mr. Lamar Smith, who, on the 3rd day of January will be the
chairman of Science, Space, and Technology for many, many years.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas,
the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee for
yielding me time.
Madam Speaker, first I want to thank the gentleman from California,
Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, for honoring both Neil Armstrong and NASA
Deputy Administrator Hugh Dryden with this bill.
Not many people know the relationship between these two men. Hugh
Dryden was the visionary behind NASA's X-15 rocket plane and the Apollo
program, and Neil Armstrong was the one who actually flew the
spacecraft that Dryden envisioned.
The X-15 rocket plane set many speed and altitude records in the
early 1960s. Hugh Dryden was the engineer and program manager for that
spacecraft, which Neil Armstrong flew seven times.
While everyone knows that Neil Armstrong was the first person to set
foot on the Moon, not many people know Hugh Dryden's role. The Soviets
launched the first satellite, Sputnik, in 1957, and Cosmonaut Yuri
Gagarin became the first man in space in April 1961.
President John F. Kennedy was looking for a way to demonstrate
American ingenuity and technical superiority over the Soviet Union, so
he convened the National Space Council and asked for their advice on
the best way for America to respond to the Soviets' string of firsts in
space exploration. Hugh Dryden was the person in that meeting who
recommended to the President that the goal of putting a person on the
Moon within 10 years was achievable and something the American people
could rally behind. The rest is history. President Kennedy grabbed Hugh
Dryden's idea and addressed a joint session of Congress the very next
month.
The Apollo program was the brainchild of Hugh Dryden, and Neil
Armstrong turned that dream into reality by making that ``one small
step for man, one giant leap for mankind'' on another world almost
240,000 miles away. Hugh Dryden was not able to see his dream become
reality, as he died in 1965, and, unfortunately, Neil Armstrong passed
away last August.
It is important for us to honor both men's legacies by naming the
flight research center after Neil Armstrong and the surrounding test
range after Hugh Dryden. With this bill, we reaffirm that America is
filled with dreamers like Hugh Dryden and doers like Neil Armstrong,
who, working together, can shoot for the Moon.
Again, Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congressman McCarthy for
honoring their legacy, which reminds us that America always needs to
think about new frontiers.
Ms. EDWARDS. Madam Speaker, I'd like to inquire of Mr. Hall as to
whether he has additional speakers; otherwise, I'm ready to close.
Mr. HALL. No, we do not have additional speakers.
Ms. EDWARDS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
It seems so fitting that we're here today to recognize Neil
Armstrong. And I want to thank Mr. Hall both for his leadership of our
Science Committee and the opportunity that we've had to work together.
He is a good friend. I look forward to working with our new chairman,
Mr. Smith, in the next Congress.
And it seems that we will have an opportunity to work on the things
that Neil Armstrong believed in and felt so passionately about: about
making sure that the United States remains at the top of the leader
board when it comes to space exploration; making certain that, as he
expressed in our committee, NASA remains at the forefront of our
technology development, of our research, of our capacity.
There are few of us who will get to see or to know what Neil
Armstrong saw and knew. There are few of us, though we want to, who
will be able to see the universe in the kind of way that Neil Armstrong
did. But what we do know is that we have the ability here in this
Congress and in future Congresses to actually preserve what it is that
we do in space and how we use technology, and that we build on the
great promise of Hugh Dryden and Neil Armstrong and our great capacity
as a Nation for research and development and technology.
I know that our leaders will be committed to preserving the names of
these great heroes in the work that we do in the future, for our
children and for generations to come.
It also seems very fitting that in honoring Neil Armstrong--and I
will just say personally, there are few opportunities here in the
Congress where you feel like you really get to both touch the past and
look to the future, and for me, that came in just being able to meet
and to talk with Neil Armstrong when he came before our committee, Mr.
Chairman.
And I will say, having watched all of those missions as a little girl
sitting in front of a black-and-white television, in a classroom,
seeing the promise and capacity of our universe and our scientific
endeavors and creation, that Neil Armstrong was at the center of that.
And so I am pleased that we're able to honor him today, but I hope that
we can honor him and his legacy in the future with the work that we do
to preserve the great work that's done at the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration for all of our future generations.
To the chairman, I know that, to Chairman Hall, Neil Armstrong was a
special friend of his as well and quite an inspiration, but an
inspiration for generations. And so it gives me great pleasure to be
able to present H.R. 6612 in renaming the Dryden Research Center as the
Neil A. Armstrong Center, and I look forward to continuing to support
the great work of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL. Madam Speaker, before I close, I'd just like to thank Jay
Pierson, who plans to retire at the end of this year, for his many,
many years of service to this House. He's been very helpful to me, to
my staff, and to other staffs. He'll be sorely missed.
With that, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I proudly stand with my good friend and
fellow Californian, Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, in strong support of
legislation we have both championed, H.R. 6612, which will redesignate
NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight
Research Center and the Western Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L.
Dryden Aeronautical Test Range.
One of the greatest benefits of public service in U.S. House of
Representatives is the people that you meet from all walks of life.
I had the very high honor and privilege of meeting Mr. Armstrong on
several occasions before he passed away on August 25, 2012.
Given his place as a revered global icon, Neil never sought the
limelight and never lost his unassuming nature or the Midwestern values
that his Ohio roots instilled in him.
Those of us who were old enough to witness first hand when he took
his first step on the surface of the moon will never forget the great
sense of pride in our country and inspiration in the ability of
mankind.
There are few events in history that have had such a profound and
positive impact, transcending generations across the globe.
H.R. 6612 is just one way we can pay tribute to this great American
hero.
The bill will accomplish three important goals: (1) to honor Neil A.
Armstrong, who served as an experimental research test pilot at the
center from 1955 to 1962; (2) to emphasize the contributions of that
center to NASA's current space exploration mission; and (3) to
memorialize the extraordinary career of Dr. Hugh L. Dryden by naming
the aeronautical
[[Page H7491]]
test range, approximately 12,000 square miles of special use airspace
in his honor.
I urge my House colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 6612.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 6612.
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. EDWARDS. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
____________________