[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4887-S4890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the nomination.
  The legislative clerk read the nomination of Donald R. Tapia, of 
Arizona, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the 
United States of America to Jamaica.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.


                   50th Anniversary of ``Apollo 11''

  Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, July 20 marks the 50th anniversary of the 
first step man took on the Moon. For that brief moment, all mankind 
stood united, watching an awesome spectacle transpire few would have 
imagined possible just years earlier. It stands as one of the greatest 
achievements in the history of mankind, and it cemented the United 
States as the world leader in science, technology, and discovery.
  In 1961, when President Kennedy boldly challenged the Nation to land 
a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth by the end of the 
decade, the technology needed to do so, for the most part, didn't even 
exist.
  That we accomplished this monumental goal is a testament to American 
ingenuity and innovation. In fact, some of the very technology 
developed for the Apollo missions is still having a positive impact on 
the lives of Iowans nearly half a century later. Our first responders 
wear fire-resistant textiles developed for the use in Apollo space 
suits. Our communities rely on water purification technology designed 
for the Apollo spacecraft. Our soldiers in the field depend on the 
MREs, Meals Ready to Eat, created to safely feed Neil Armstrong, Buzz 
Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their half-million-mile journey to the 
Moon and back. My daughter Libby, who is a cadet at West Point, was 
recently sharing some very strong opinions about these MREs, but maybe 
she will feel differently after I tell her this was actually food for 
astronauts.
  Yet, in all seriousness, when the government makes wise and sound 
investments in the development of emerging technology, the benefits can 
be tremendous.
  GPS is a great example of this, especially in Iowa. GPS has its roots 
in the military and has a strong Air Force stewardship, and its 
significance only continues to grow with the advancements of satellites 
and the development of drones. Yet GPS has evolved beyond just military 
use; it impacts the everyday lives of Iowans. From driving directions 
in rideshare services to the electric power grid, GPS is utilized by 
businesses and consumers across the country. This important technology 
supports new and emerging applications, including water quality, 
driverless vehicles, and precision agriculture. It is estimated that 
civilian and commercial access to GPS added $90 billion in annual value 
to the U.S. economy in 2013.
  Examples like these demonstrate why it is so important this body and 
our Nation as a whole continue to push the envelope when it comes to 
science, technology, and discovery, and that is exactly what Senate 
Republicans have been doing.
  As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging 
Threats and Capabilities, I have made it a priority to ensure that the 
United States remains the world's leader in the development of 
artificial intelligence, or AI. From novel defensive capabilities and 
data analysis to the predictive maintenance of military hardware, there 
is no overstating the value of AI to our national security.
  I also fought to ensure the recent Defense bill prioritized the 
continued development of advanced manufacturing techniques, otherwise 
known as 3D printing. Look no further than Rock Island Arsenal, which 
employs so many of my fellow Iowans. They are doing some truly 
innovative work in this arena--work that has the potential to transform 
the way we supply our men and women in uniform. As a former company 
commander who oversaw supply convoys into a war zone, I know personally 
how important this is.
  Of course, there is a consensus on both sides of the aisle that we 
can do more to get our students--especially young girls--excited about 
futures in STEM and STEAM. I hope we can work together to advance that 
effort in the near future. After all, the Moon landing could have never 
happened without the contributions of thousands of women from across 
the Nation. These unsung heroes did everything from developing Apollo's 
onboard software to weaving the copper wire for the spacecraft's 
guidance system.
  As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, there 
will be countless commemorations and tributes to this monumental event. 
We will look back on President Kennedy's bold call to action, the 
hundreds of thousands of hard-working American men and women who 
answered that call, and the three heroes who rode Apollo 11 to the Moon 
and back. Then, in that same spirit, we will turn our gaze to the 
future--to the innovation, to the

[[Page S4888]]

technology, and to discovery. Be it here on Earth or out amongst the 
stars, the United States will continue to lead the way as we look to 
take that next great step for mankind.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
  Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleagues in 
commemorating the 50th anniversary of American astronauts becoming the 
first humans to walk on the Moon.
  It was 50 years ago that the United States met one of the biggest 
challenges it had ever set for itself. Through determination, hard 
work, invention, and innovation, the United States fulfilled President 
Kennedy's vision of reaching the Moon before the end of the 1960s.
  I remember that time very well, for July 16, 1969, was my dad's 37th 
birthday. We were vacationing in Florida, at the Spyglass Inn on the 
beach. We were so excited to be close to Merritt Island, FL, where 
Apollo 11 was being launched. We were in our hotel room, watching the 
television. That is one vacation I will never forget. As a young girl, 
I remember watching those first astronauts step foot on the Moon. It 
was with great awe that I watched Apollo 11 lift off from the Earth and 
watched the lunar module land safely on the surface of the Moon. With a 
lot of amazement, I watched Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as they 
announced ``the Eagle has landed'' and then as they took those first 
brave steps on the Moon. It was with great pride that I watched them 
plant the American flag on the Moon.
  Those brave NASA astronauts of the Apollo program today continue to 
serve as an inspiration that we are capable of anything we set our 
minds to. Equally important is the reminder that those astronauts could 
not have reached the Moon without their having the support of the 
thousands of men and women who were both in NASA and in the aerospace 
industry. It is a reminder that we are at our best when we work 
together.
  While NASA's mission has changed and evolved over the last 60 years, 
the aerospace industry continues to play a vital role in our quest for 
knowledge and America's national security mission.
  In my home State of Mississippi, we are very proud of the conspicuous 
roles our citizens play in our Nation's space exploration and 
endeavors. Since the earliest days of America's space program, 
Mississippi has played an important role in the quest to explore the 
stars.

  For more than 50 years, the John C. Stennis Space Center, in Hancock 
County, MS, has dutifully tested and approved NASA's largest rocket 
engines, including the Saturn V rockets that took our astronauts to the 
Moon and, later, the engines for the space shuttle program. Stennis is 
today testing engines and rocket stages for NASA's Space Launch System, 
which will again take humans beyond low-Earth orbit. I am pleased, much 
like in the Apollo days, that Mississippi has an important role in the 
SLS program. As we are fond of reminding everyone, ``The road to space 
goes through Mississippi.''
  However, Stennis isn't only known for its rocket testing to support 
NASA missions; it also proudly bears the title of the ``Federal City'' 
and is one of the Federal Government's best places to work. With a 
13,800-acre area that is surrounded by a 125,000-acre buffer zone, it 
has allowed dozens of our Federal and private sector tenants to take 
advantage of its unique isolation and security to serve our Nation's 
interest across many sectors, perhaps most notably in the field of 
oceanography and meteorology.
  The meteorological and oceanographic modeling and forecasting 
capabilities at Stennis provide naval commanders with the information 
they need to make good decisions that affect the safety of ships and 
sailors around the world every single day. The Navy's largest 
supercomputer is located at Stennis.
  The unique Federal city of Stennis Space Center covers exploration 
from the bottom of the ocean to the far reaches of the universe. It is 
America's largest rocket test complex--an impressive tsunami and 
weather buoy production site--and is a place where elite Naval Special 
Warfare personnel conduct highly advanced riverine and jungle training 
by using cutting-edge unmanned systems technology. Stennis also houses 
several private initiatives, such as Aerojet Rocketdyne's engine 
assembly facility, Lockheed Martin's Mississippi Space & Technology 
Center, a Rolls Royce test facility, and Relativity Space. The national 
and international scope of work that takes place at Stennis every day 
creates a local, direct economic impact of nearly $600 million and has 
nearly $1 billion in its global impact.
  As we mark this 50th anniversary, I am pleased that Stennis Space 
Center is helping to inspire, encourage, and prepare students to pursue 
science, technology, engineering, and math-related careers--the talents 
we will need to get to Mars and beyond.
  Since its inception more than 60 years ago, NASA has pioneered 
scientific discovery and captivated the Nation. These capabilities are 
especially important in today's world, where innovation and fostering 
an interest among our youth in the science, technology, mathematics, 
and engineering fields are vital to the United States' continuing to be 
a success in this world.
  I am proud that Mississippi plays a vital role in our Nation's work 
to meet the technological challenges of today and tomorrow. This work 
occurs not only at Stennis Space Center but also at so many other 
related businesses across the State of Mississippi.
  The people of Mississippi look with pride at our role in the United 
States' having reached the Moon 50 years ago, and we look forward to 
the decades ahead when the testing, technology, and innovation taking 
place in our State helps the American space program reach new, 
monumental achievements. I believe the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 
11 Moon landing can and should inspire generations of people around the 
world to explore and push the boundaries of what they believe to be 
possible.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I am honored to join my colleagues today 
to commemorate this anniversary of an incredible event.
  Fifty-eight years ago in May of 1961--the year in which I was born--
President John F. Kennedy appeared before Congress and boldly declared 
the United States would send an American to the Moon before the end of 
the decade. This was no small task, obviously, as programs had to be 
funded, as scientific advancements had to be made, and as foreign 
adversaries had to be kept at bay. As the head of NASA's Space Task 
Group said, ``Flying a man to the Moon required an enormous advance in 
the science of flight in a very short time.'' Yet President Kennedy was 
not deterred. In his ignoring conventional wisdom and the ever-present 
naysayers, he pressed on, and so did the patriotic Americans who were 
charged with making this happen.
  A few years later, NASA began its Apollo missions, and the necessary 
scientific advancements became a reality. In October of 1968, Apollo 7 
was the first Apollo mission in space, and it conducted the very first 
live TV program of a U.S. spacecraft. Apollo 8 launched 2 months later 
and successfully orbited the Moon. Apollo 9 carried the first lunar 
module into orbit in March of 1969. We were getting closer. Apollo 10 
launched in May. It was a full dress rehearsal for the Apollo 11 
mission. It was successful. We were ready.
  Fifty years ago yesterday, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael 
Collins launched the Apollo 11 mission to fulfill President Kennedy's 
promise of landing on the Moon. That week, my 8-year-old self and an 
estimated 650 million of my closest friends from around the world 
watched Neil Armstrong land on the Moon and plant our Nation's flag. He 
offered the famous phrase: ``That's one small step for man, one giant 
leap for mankind.''
  That giant leap was a monumental moment in history, for sure, and it 
didn't happen in the abstract. It was really the result of hundreds of 
years of scientific discovery and decades of work from countless public 
servants who devoted their lives to this cause. Apollo 10 gave Apollo 
11 the confidence that the operation would be successful. Apollo 7 gave 
us the opportunity to see its success with our own eyes. The astronauts 
of Apollo 1, in a fatal 1967 tragedy, gave their lives to this mission. 
That giant leap happened because

[[Page S4889]]

of the small steps that had been taken before it, and those who took 
that giant leap are pressing on even today.
  The scientific discovery and space exploration that were made 
possible because of those missions continue to this day, including in 
my great State of North Dakota. Just a few years after the Moon 
landing, the University of North Dakota's John Odegard asked Buzz 
Aldrin to come to our State to help him start a space education program 
within the University of North Dakota, and Buzz Aldrin said yes.
  He left the State, of course, ultimately, but the program stayed, and 
it grew.
  Today, students from across the globe enroll in the University of 
North Dakota to learn about the cutting-edge technologies and 
scientific breakthroughs in space exploration. Some of their recent 
endeavors provide vital insights for future space exploration, 
including for a mission to Mars.
  North Dakotans don't just learn; they get involved. Some even become 
astronauts. New Rockford's own James Buchli joined NASA in 1979 and 6 
years later became the first North Dakotan to go to space, and he is 
now in the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.
  Shortly after Buchli's space flight came West Fargo's Tony England, 
who launched into space 6 months later. England's career is marked by 
his work 15 years earlier at Mission Control, where he and others heard 
the chilling words, ``Houston, we have a problem.'' England's team 
helped save the lives of those on the Apollo 13 mission that day.
  Then Jamestown's Rick Hieb launched into space three times starting 
in 1991. The University of North Dakota's 1994 graduate Karen Nyberg 
was the 50th woman ever to launch into space. She did it first in 2008. 
She also spent 6 months on the International Space Station in 2013 and 
now serves on the board of the University of North Dakota School of 
Aerospace Sciences' foundation, giving back to her alma mater.
  North Dakotans leave an outsized mark in the world of space 
exploration, and they are just getting started. The University of North 
Dakota touts over 100 students taking graduate classes in the 
Department of Space Studies, and they have handed out nearly 800 master 
of science degrees in space studies since the program began.
  I am optimistic about the roles these leaders will play in the 
future, following the leads of giants like Buzz Aldrin and Karen 
Nyberg.
  I was only 8 years old during the Apollo 11 mission. Like most 
Americans, I found it to be an exhilarating experience, even watching 
it on my parents' black and white television. But I know I didn't fully 
grasp the importance of what I was watching that day. I worry sometimes 
that many people still don't. Space was, is, and will be integral to 
our way of life, and we must continue to maintain our commercial, 
technological, and military edge in this important domain.
  I hope we will use this anniversary as an opportunity to reaffirm our 
commitment to space exploration and to remind ourselves of the impact 
investments made today can have on our future, and along the way, 
perhaps we can renew that unifying American spirit that was so 
prevalent on that day 50 years ago and perhaps even give inspiration to 
aspiration once again.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, if the Senator from North Dakota was here 
to speak about Apollo 11 and got here a moment or two before me, I am 
happy to yield.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I thank the good Senator from Mississippi.
  This weekend, our Nation will mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 
11 Moon landing. This was a tremendous feat for our country.
  In recognition of this true American triumph, I am cosponsoring a 
Senate resolution celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing. 
Our resolution recognizes the vision of President Kennedy and the hard 
work and the ingenuity of the men and women of NASA who made it 
possible for our Nation to achieve what seemed to be an impossible goal 
at the time.
  Like many Americans, I can still remember the excitement of seeing 
the American flag planted on the Moon and hearing Neil Armstrong say 
the famous line, ``That's one small step for man, one giant leap for 
mankind.''
  Truly it was a giant leap. NASA not only helped develop technologies 
to put astronauts on the Moon, but these technologies have benefited 
industries, including our military, the medical field, energy, and many 
others.
  We all know NASA is a premiere center for scientific research and 
technological advancement, but it is important to remember that NASA's 
mission includes not only space but also aeronautics.
  As our Nation did during the space race, we are now working to stay 
at the forefront of new technologies, including unmanned aerial 
systems. In particular, I want to highlight the research NASA is doing 
right now in support of unmanned aviation. NASA is designing an 
unmanned air traffic management system that will provide air traffic 
control for unmanned aircraft operations. This traffic management 
project is critical to unlocking the potential of unmanned aviation, 
from package delivery to pipeline inspections.
  NASA is at the forefront of this effort to make unmanned flights safe 
and efficient for a multitude of operators. North Dakota works right 
along with NASA toward this goal, with a UAS test site that is helping 
advance all aspects of unmanned aviation. In fact, they were recently 
selected by the FAA to host an unmanned traffic pilot program and have 
developed a strong partnership with NASA to research, develop, and 
demonstrate this technology.

  I continue to support funding for unmanned traffic management 
research because I am confident that NASA, with the help of its 
industry partners, as well as our test site in North Dakota, will meet 
this complex technological challenge. By making a relatively small 
investment in unmanned traffic management research today, NASA is going 
to help unlock billions of dollars in economic activity in the not-too-
distant future.
  We have worked hard to ensure that North Dakota is an important part 
of exploring this new NASA frontier, and we are thrilled to help 
realize the wide variety of benefits that unmanned aviation will bring, 
making our Nation more prosperous and secure, and we can only imagine 
where we will be 50 years from today.
  I yield the floor to the great Senator from the great State of 
Mississippi.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I thank my friend from North Dakota, and I 
thank all of the people who have arranged for this special recognition.
  Mr. INHOFE. Will the Senator yield for a unanimous consent request?
  Mr. WICKER. I am delighted to yield to my friend from Oklahoma.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at the 
conclusion of the remarks of the Senator from Mississippi, I be 
recognized for such time as I may consume.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, it is really hard to believe that the 
first Moon landing was 50 years ago, but, in fact, 50 years ago today, 
three Americans were on their way to the Moon--Neil Armstrong, Buzz 
Aldrin, and Michael Collins.
  I had the honor of actually meeting with Buzz Aldrin just the other 
day, shaking his hand, and being able to listen to his perspectives 
about what has happened in the last 50 years. What a great American.
  At this moment, I would also honor the names of Neil Armstrong and 
Michael Collins. While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin got to step foot 
on the Moon, Michael Collins' assignment was to stay in the vehicle and 
orbit solo above. It was not at all guaranteed that his two colleagues 
would get back. We certainly thought we had the technology; we thought 
we could do it, and indeed we did, but it was not a given.
  Michael Collins wrote during that lonely flight while his two 
colleagues were walking on the face of the Moon:

       I am . . . absolutely isolated from any known life. I am 
     it. If a count were taken, the score would be three billion 
     plus two over on the other side of the Moon, and one plus God 
     knows what on this side.


[[Page S4890]]


  Those are the words of American hero Michael Collins.
  These three men were separated from the rest of humanity, but they 
certainly were not alone. Hundreds of millions of people watched and 
prayed and gave them their best wishes.
  It is hard to believe--and I still have to pinch myself--that I was a 
freshman in college for this Moon walk, and that was 50 years ago. How 
could 50 years have passed by so quickly?
  Men and women have always looked up at the night sky and seen their 
heroes in the constellations. Now we still look up at the sky, and we 
see our heroes, but among them are astronauts who go to the stars and 
return and will go to the Moon and to Mars and return.
  I want to salute the people who have done it before and the people 
who are making plans to put a man and woman on the face of the Moon 
within 5 years.
  I was so honored to chair a hearing just this morning featuring NASA 
Administrator Bridenstine, who has put forward a bold proposal from the 
Trump administration, which has moved the deadline up from 10 years to 
5 years. Indeed, I can tell you, it is the goal of NASA and it is the 
goal of this Member of the U.S. Senate and the committee that I chair 
to facilitate making this go and actually putting a man and a woman 
back on the face of the Moon in 5 years and then, beyond that, on Mars.
  These are ambitious goals, which match and rival the ambition of 
President Kennedy, who announced this plan in 1961. Credit goes to 
President Johnson, who took up the cause after the assassination of 
President Kennedy, and President Nixon, a Republican succeeding two 
Democrats, who saw it to fruition in 1969.
  I am proud to salute all of the people--some nameless, faceless 
people who are not famous--for their role in this magnificent 
accomplishment.
  I am proud to say that Mississippians were among the first to answer 
President Kennedy's call. After all, the Saturn V rocket used for the 
Apollo Program was tested at Stennis Space Center in Hancock County in 
Mississippi, where we still do almost all of the rocket testing in the 
United States of America.
  As Wernher von Braun, one of the leaders of U.S. early space efforts 
once said, ``I don't know yet what method we will use to get to the 
Moon, but I do know that we [will] have to go through Mississippi to 
get there.'' That was true back in the sixties, and it is true today as 
we approach the one-fifth mark of the 21st century.
  We owe so much to the pioneers. Humankind owes so much to the people 
who answered President Kennedy's charge not only to win the space 
race--our country against those cosmonauts of the Soviet Union--but 
also for all of the peaceful results that have come from this.
  Technologies behind CT scans came from the space program. Intensive 
care monitoring equipment, which saves lives every day around the 
globe, came from the scientific discoveries that were accomplished 
during our race to the Moon. GPS and smart phones all have their 
origins in Apollo.
  The commercial space sector is now valued at more than $400 billion, 
and it is reminding us all of the power of free enterprise to open up 
new frontiers. Clearly, that $400 billion will grow over the next 
decade, perhaps to trillions and trillions of dollars.
  Certainly the writers of Newsweek were correct when they called the 
Moonshot ``the best return on investment since Leonardo da Vinci bought 
himself a sketch pad.'' They were exactly right, and this next shot 
should give us an opportunity also to get our money's worth.
  We will go back to the Moon; we will go on to Mars. So as we 
celebrate the 50th anniversary, we look toward the future to all the 
missions that will come and go, and we remind ourselves of this 
country's common purpose and potential. The Moon landing was not the 
end of an age of discovery; it was only the beginning.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cotton). The Senator from Oklahoma.