[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H5919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ``APOLLO 11'' CELEBRATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Oklahoma (Ms. Kendra S. Horn) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, this week, we celebrate 
one of the most remarkable moments in human history: The launch of the 
Apollo 11 lunar mission, and the first steps on the Moon by American 
astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. American leadership, 
ingenuity, and investment made this moment possible 50 years ago.
  As the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee chairwoman, I am honored to 
be joined by my colleagues today to recognize this achievement and talk 
about what it means, 50 years later. As we commemorate this historic 
accomplishment, it is clear that we stand on the shoulders of space 
pioneers, some of whom are still with us today.
  Apollo 11 and Armstrong's first steps on the lunar surface were the 
culmination of a focused, methodical buildup of the developments, 
demonstrations, and operational capabilities needed to achieve the Moon 
landing.
  The value of the Apollo program is beyond measure. Its mission 
inspired and continues to draw countless Americans into science, 
technology, engineering and math. This program led to significant 
technological advances and products that changed the world as we know 
it and benefit our lives today.
  Fundamentally, the success of Apollo contributed to our standing in 
the world. Apollo taught us the value of taking audacious, and yet 
intentional risks.
  I would like to focus, as well, for a moment, on the mission that 
immediately preceded the Moon landing, Apollo 10. This mission, 
launched 2 months before, was launched to test all of the components 
and procedures just short of landing. Carrying the lunar module, it 
came as close as 50,000 feet from the lunar surface before returning 
safely to Earth.
  Retired Air Force General Thomas P. Stafford, an Oklahoman, commanded 
this essential mission that enabled us to land on the Moon.
  General Stafford was born in Weatherford, Oklahoma, and received a 
Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 
1952, graduating with honors. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 
the Air Force, he completed advanced interceptor training and served 
tours of duty flying F-86Ds. He then graduated from the U.S. Air Force 
Test Pilot School as the outstanding graduate.
  Throughout his career, Stafford flew more than 100 different types of 
aircraft as he pushed the boundaries of achievement in air and space. 
Stafford was selected as an astronaut in 1962 and, 3 years later, flew 
on Gemini 6 as the first space rendezvous mission, followed by Gemini 
9.
  Later, General Stafford commanded the first international space 
flight mission, Apollo-Soyuz. This peaceful cooperation between two 
Cold War rivals was the first step in what has become a sustained 
relationship between the U.S., Russia, and our international partners 
with the International Space Station.
  The last of the Apollo missions, its lasting impacts, reminds us that 
even in times of warfare and global distress, that space exploration is 
a unifying force of discovery, peace, cooperation, and diplomacy.
  Beyond all his accomplishments, General Stafford has also become a 
friend and mentor. To General Stafford, and all of those who 
contributed to the success of Apollo, you inspired a generation and 
showed the world what is possible when our Nation comes together to 
focus on an ambitious goal and, in turn, change the world in both 
foreseeable and unforeseeable ways.

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