[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 16, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H5831-H5832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Spano) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SPANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 50th anniversary of 
the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
  Fifty years ago, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins 
launched from Florida's coast at Kennedy Space Center with the goal of 
being the first to step foot on the Moon.
  On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong accomplished what was only a short 
time prior believed to be impossible. He became the first man to set 
foot on the Moon, uttering the famous words, ``That's one small step 
for man, one giant leap for mankind.''
  Those words ring through history, but it is important that we also 
recognize the hundreds of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and 
support staff who worked tirelessly to ensure mission success but do 
not receive the public recognition that they deserve for their 
contributions.
  One example of this is Susan Finley. She began her career as a 
computer programmer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and wrote 
software for the Deep Space Network. That software made it possible to 
hear the transmissions from the Moon that showed the world what was 
possible when the United States committed to achieving the impossible.
  I am also incredibly proud that 50 years after this accomplishment, 
Florida remains at the forefront of space exploration. Today, the new 
crew capsules designed to launch American astronauts into space are 
being built, and I hope that by the end of this year, in which we are 
celebrating the first Moon landing, we will again see American 
astronauts climb into American-built capsules and launch into space 
from Florida's shores.
  We have relied on Russian spacecraft for too long, and this will 
inspire a new generation of American children to develop a passion for 
exploration and to pursue science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics education, just as the Apollo program did 50 years ago when 
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first to set foot on the 
Moon.
  President George Bush said: ``Mankind is drawn to the heavens for the 
same reason we were once drawn into unknown lands and across the open 
sea. We choose to explore space because doing so improves our lives and 
lifts our national spirit. So let us continue the journey.''


           Congratulating Michaela McLean, Miss Florida 2019

  Mr. SPANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Michaela McLean 
on her crowning achievement of being named Miss Florida 2019.
  Michaela, a graduate of East Ridge High School in Clermont, Florida, 
and

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daughter of two citrus growers, is no stranger to pageants, as she had 
also previously been named Miss Florida Citrus.
  To win this latest competition, she was able to showcase her skills 
as a collegiate dance major, a talent she uses to express her dreams 
and her struggles.
  She has plans now to use her other college major of public relations 
to help promote Florida's economic and cultural strengths.
  Michaela will promote her social impact initiative called Brave & 
Beautiful, which encourages women to develop healthy habits while 
living purpose-driven lives. Brave & Beautiful has already launched 
conferences in multiple schools in central Florida and has made an 
impact internationally in Kenya, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to hear how Michaela is using her many gifts 
to help transform lives, and I applaud her efforts. She is a wonderful 
role model for our young women.

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