[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 14 (Thursday, January 31, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S445-S446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 23--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT A POSTAGE 
  STAMP SHOULD BE ISSUED TO COMMEMORATE THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF JUAN 
                    PONCE DE LEON LANDING ON FLORIDA

  Mr. NELSON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:

                               S. Res. 23

       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the United States Postal Service should issue a postage 
     stamp to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de 
     Leon landing on Florida; and
       (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the United 
     States Postal Service should recommend to the Postmaster 
     General that such a stamp be issued.
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SENATE RESOLUTION 24--COMMEMORATING THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOSS 
                   OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE ``COLUMBIA''

  Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Thune, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. 
Isakson, Mr. Warner, Mr. Heller, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Coburn, Ms. Mikulski, 
Mr. Rubio, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Brown, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Alexander, 
Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Begich, Mr. Vitter, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. 
Moran, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Wicker, and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 24

       Whereas a sense of adventure is innate to the human spirit;
       Whereas the urge to explore continues to motivate the 
     United States as a nation;
       Whereas the global leadership of the United States is 
     determined by the resolve of the people of the United States;
       Whereas the drive to innovate and explore has led the 
     people of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     and related industry and education leaders to make important 
     discoveries with a broad impact on humanity, in spite of 
     inherent risk;
       Whereas the men and women of the space program of the 
     United States have captured the curiosity of the people of 
     the United States, inspiring generations of scientists, 
     engineers, and pioneers, and delivering technological 
     advances and innovation, scientific research, and 
     international partnerships to the benefit of nearly all 
     sectors of the economy of the United States;
       Whereas, on February 1, 2003, the United States joined the 
     world in mourning the loss of 7 astronauts who perished 
     aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as it re-entered the 
     atmosphere of the Earth;
       Whereas United States Air Force Colonel Rick D. Husband, 
     Mission Commander; United States Navy Commander William 
     ``Willie'' C. McCool, Pilot; United States Air Force 
     Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Anderson, Payload Commander/
     Mission Specialist; United States Navy Captain David M. 
     Brown, Mission Specialist; United States Navy Commander 
     Laurel B. Clark, Mission Specialist; Dr. Kalpana Chawla, 
     Mission Specialist; and Israeli Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon, 
     Payload Specialist were killed in the line of duty and in 
     pursuit of discovery during the STS-107 mission;
       Whereas the people of the United States are driven to 
     continue the exploration and pursuit of discovery with as 
     much passion and determination as these brave men and women;
       Whereas an innate curiosity about what lies beyond our 
     world drives us to expand the limits of human exploration and 
     discovery in space, in the furtherance of the leadership and 
     strategic interests of the United States;
       Whereas exploring the heavens and the celestial bodies of 
     the solar system is not without great risk and peril;
       Whereas the loss of the 7 brave souls aboard the Space 
     Shuttle Columbia and others who have sacrificed their lives 
     in pursuit of human space exploration shall forever serve as 
     a solemn reminder of the firm commitment of the United States 
     to devote the capacity and resources necessary to improve 
     safety, minimize risk, and do everything possible to protect 
     the next generation of explorers willing to risk themselves 
     in the service of mankind;
       Whereas those involved in the Space Shuttle program of the 
     United States have sought to apply the lessons learned from 
     the Space Shuttle Columbia accident to future human 
     spaceflight by the United States, which included 22 
     additional program missions and shepherding the Space Shuttle 
     program to its safe and successful conclusion;
       Whereas the lessons learned from the Space Shuttle Columbia 
     accident should be applied to current policy of the space 
     program of the United States; and
       Whereas the people of the United States will not forget the 
     sacrifice of those 7 determined explorers aboard the Space 
     Shuttle Columbia, as well as others who perished in the 
     exploration of the unknown: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) remembers the 7 astronauts who tragically lost their 
     lives aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as it re-entered the 
     atmosphere of the Earth 10 years ago on February 1, 2003;
       (2) expresses its condolences to the friends and families 
     of the astronauts who died that day;
       (3) commends those who have honored the memory of the Space 
     Shuttle Columbia over the past decade, including the 
     employees of Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as 
     regular citizens and volunteers, who assisted

[[Page S446]]

     in the debris recovery and accident investigation process; 
     and
       (4) reaffirms the commitment of the people and the 
     Government of the United States to provide the leadership and 
     resources necessary to ensure robust and safe human 
     spaceflight capability in low Earth orbit and beyond in the 
     21st century, to make certain that the sacrifice of those 
     heroes shall not have been in vain.
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    SENATE RESOLUTION 25--HONORING GONZAGA UNIVERSITY ON ITS 125TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

  Ms. CANTWELL (for Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Cantwell)) 
submitted the following resolution; which ws considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 25

       Whereas, in 1881, at the request of the citizens of the 
     City of Spokane Falls, Washington, Father Joseph Cataldo, 
     S.J., a Jesuit from the Rocky Mountain Mission, committed to 
     establishing a school along the banks of the Spokane River;
       Whereas, on September 17, 1887, Gonzaga College officially 
     opened its doors with an inaugural class of 18 students;
       Whereas Gonzaga College, known today as Gonzaga University, 
     has grown into a nationally recognized 4-year liberal arts 
     university, where nearly 8,000 students can choose from more 
     than 75 fields of study, select from 25 master's degree 
     programs, and pursue doctoral degrees in law and leadership 
     studies;
       Whereas Gonzaga University is repeatedly listed as one of 
     the best comprehensive regional universities in the western 
     United States, is ranked second in the United States among 
     small universities for alumni serving in the Peace Corps, and 
     consistently earns a place on the President's Higher 
     Education and Community Service Honor Roll;
       Whereas Gonzaga University invests more than $60,000,000 
     annually in scholarships and in financial assistance to its 
     students; and
       Whereas notable Gonzaga alumni include a former Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, a Governor of the 
     State of Washington and the first female Attorney General of 
     the State of Washington, the current Chaplain of the United 
     States House of Representatives, judges of the United States 
     district courts, and members of the Washington State Supreme 
     Court: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors Gonzaga University on its 125th anniversary;
       (2) celebrates the commitment of Gonzaga University to its 
     students and to educating the whole individual, including the 
     mind, body, and spirit;
       (3) applauds Gonzaga University for its dedication to 
     instilling the importance of service to others and civic 
     engagement; and
       (4) congratulates the students, staff, faculty, alumni, and 
     supporters of Gonzaga University for their many contributions 
     in the United States and abroad.

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