[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H5916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ``APOLLO 11'' MOON LANDING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Johnson) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as chairwoman of the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, it is an honor to stand before you 
today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.
  On the morning of July 16, 1969, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and 
Buzz Aldrin lifted off from NASA's Cape Kennedy. That day, millions 
watched in awe as NASA launched Apollo 11's Saturn V rocket and began 
the long journey to accomplish the goals set by President Kennedy less 
than 10 years earlier to land a man on the Moon before the end of the 
decade.
  As President Kennedy said in his speech at Rice University in 
September 1962: ``We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the 
other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.''
  There is no better explanation that captures the American spirit. We 
choose to take giant leaps. We choose to know the unknown. We choose to 
lead into the future.
  On July 20, 1960, just 4 days after the launch, the world listened 
and watched as the first steps were taken on the Moon. Again, hundreds 
of millions of people across the world watched as history was made.
  Five times more, NASA astronauts landed on the Moon and returned home 
safely. President Kennedy's promise that our great democracy could 
achieve these hard things became a reality.
  As we watched those things in July 50 years ago, dreams began to 
form. Every person watching the success of the Apollo program, young 
and old, no matter their background, was filled with inspiration.
  Some youngsters could say to themselves, ``I will be an astronaut,'' 
or, ``I will be a scientist.'' As they looked up to the Moon, they 
pictured themselves up there amongst those American heroes an 
unimaginable distance away.
  This impact has its greatest effect on our young people. We must 
always remember that inspiration when we set out to accomplish our 
greatest goals, the youth inspiration. The world's rising generations 
are watching, always setting their eyes on the sky and the stars. Young 
girls and young boys from all backgrounds thrive off the visions that 
we have now and imagine themselves becoming a part of it when they can.
  We must meet this great responsibility to the following generations 
by providing opportunities for them to do great things with the 
challenge we face today. As my predecessor, chairman of the then-
Committee of Science and Astronautics, Congressman George P. Miller 
said after the Apollo 11 crew splashed down safely in the Pacific 
Ocean:

       Those of us who are privileged to live today will pass this 
     on to our children and our grandchildren, and they will, in 
     turn, brag about the fact that we were there. The flight of 
     Apollo 11 is perhaps the greatest secular achievement that 
     the world has ever seen.

  This achievement was made possible by the unified efforts of nearly a 
half million men and women, scientists and engineers, technicians and 
craftsmen, and the support of the American people and their government. 
The United States discovery and exploration enterprise is unmatched.
  Just as we once set our sights to be the first to land on the Moon, 
let us bring that same sense of commitment to meeting other challenges 
facing our Nation.

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