[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 213 (Wednesday, December 16, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H7222-H7224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NEIL A. ARMSTRONG TEST FACILITY ACT

  Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (S. 2472) to redesignate the NASA John H. Glenn 
Research Center at Plum Brook Station, Ohio, as the NASA John H. Glenn 
Research Center at the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 2472

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Neil A. Armstrong Test 
     Facility Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds as follows:
       (1) Neil A. Armstrong, through his own definition, was 
     first and foremost as a test pilot.
       (2) A native of Wapakoneta, Ohio, Armstrong began his 
     inspiring career in space exploration in Cleveland, Ohio, at 
     what is now the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center.
       (3) Becoming the first human to land a spacecraft, and then 
     set foot upon, the moon, represents the greatest dream of any 
     test pilot.
       (4) Therefore, it is fitting that the premier aeronautics 
     and space test station in Ohio should be renamed in his 
     honor.

     SEC. 3. REDESIGNATION OF NASA JOHN H. GLENN RESEARCH CENTER 
                   AT PLUM BROOK STATION, OHIO, AS NASA JOHN H. 
                   GLENN RESEARCH CENTER AT THE NEIL A. ARMSTRONG 
                   TEST FACILITY.

       (a) Redesignation.--The NASA John H. Glenn Research Center 
     at Plum Brook Station, Ohio, is hereby redesignated as the 
     NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at the Neil A. Armstrong 
     Test Facility.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     station referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``NASA John H. Glenn Center at the Neil A. 
     Armstrong Test Facility''.

[[Page H7223]]

       (c) Savings.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
     alter the relationship between the Plum Brook Station and the 
     NASA John H. Glenn Research Center.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Oklahoma (Ms. Kendra S. Horn) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Gonzalez) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Oklahoma.


                             General Leave

  Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2472, the 
bill now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2472, the Neil A. 
Armstrong Test Facility Act.
  NASA astronaut and Apollo 11 spacecraft commander Neil Armstrong 
inspired all of humanity by taking ``one small step for man, one giant 
leap for mankind,'' touching down on a planetary body hundreds of 
thousands of miles away as a part of the Apollo 11 Moon landing 
mission. He is a national hero, a naval aviator, and one of many early 
pioneers of human space exploration.
  Mr. Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, and started his NASA 
career in 1955, at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics--or 
NACA--Lewis Research Center, now the NASA Glenn Research Center.
  This legislation recognizes his significant achievements, service, 
and contributions to the Nation by renaming the NASA John H. Glenn 
Research Center at Plum Brook Station, Ohio, as the NASA John H. Glenn 
Research Center at the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility.
  NASA's Plum Brook Station, located in Sandusky, Ohio, is home to 
world-class test facilities, where NASA and the international space 
community perform complex, critical ground tests of space vehicles and 
systems.
  Just this year, the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle finished its 
final campaign of environmental testing at Plum Brook Station as NASA 
prepares to return humans to deep space exploration.
  Mr. Armstrong returned to his home State of Ohio after his service to 
the Nation and NASA. It is truly appropriate that a world-class 
aerospace test facility in the State of Ohio be named for a native son 
and one of the world's most accomplished and dedicated pilots.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 2472, the Neil A. 
Armstrong Test Facility Act, to honor an American hero.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2472, the Neil A. 
Armstrong Test Facility Act. This legislation would simply rename the 
NASA Plum Brook Station testing facility in Sandusky, Ohio, after Neil 
Armstrong.
  I want to first thank the esteemed Senator Portman from the great 
State of Ohio for his work on this legislation and his many years of 
service to our State.
  Additionally, I want to thank my colleague from across the aisle, and 
another fellow Ohioan, Congresswoman Kaptur, for her efforts on this as 
well. Ms. Kaptur is a tremendous leader within our State. While we may 
be on opposite sides of the aisle, we have always found ways to work 
together on behalf of northern Ohio.
  On July 20, 1969, the world watched in wonder as Neil Armstrong 
became the first man to ever set foot on the Moon. Born in Wapakoneta, 
Ohio, Armstrong was the embodiment of a dedicated American. Serving as 
a naval aviator during the Korean war and participating in various test 
pilot programs, he was never one to shy away from a challenge. His 
courage was reflective of not only himself, but also that of the United 
States as we raced to beat Soviet Russia to the Moon. It is why, today, 
we move to honor Armstrong's legacy by renaming the Plum Brook Station 
at NASA's John Glenn Research Center to the Neil A. Armstrong Test 
Facility.
  A staple of northern Ohio and a continuing symbol of American 
ingenuity, Plum Brook is home to an array of projects for supporting 
our country's endeavors into the unknown. Ranging from the world's most 
powerful space environment simulators to full-scale testing for launch 
vehicles, Plum Brook is critical to NASA's mission. Renaming Plum Brook 
after one of our State's greatest heroes is a fitting way to 
memorialize Neil Armstrong's legacy within the State of Ohio and to 
inspire the next generation of leaders in our quest to explore the 
universe.
  This legislation has already passed the United States Senate via 
unanimous consent and has the full support of the entire Ohio 
congressional delegation.
  I thank Senators Portman and Brown on this bill. I also thank 
Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas for their help in bringing 
this bill to the floor today so that it can reach the President's desk.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur). It is very fitting that we have 
another Ohioan to speak on this bill.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2472, the Neil A. 
Armstrong Test Facility Act.
  Congresswoman Horn, you have been a trusted and valued colleague and 
have ably served our Nation and your constituents. I want to express my 
deep appreciation for your assistance on today's legislation and for 
your friendship as you served so honorably in this Congress. In the 
busy days before the end of the session, Ohio is truly grateful for 
your assistance in getting this bill to the finish line. We can't thank 
you enough.
  Mr. Speaker, the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility Act renames the NASA 
Plum Brook Station after a true American hero, who happened to be a 
Buckeye, an Ohioan.
  Our State is known for aviation, for its flight milestones, for its 
courageous heroes and inventors. The Plum Brook Station, located in 
Sandusky, Ohio, is a true asset to American excellence in space 
exploration. The facilities at the site are second to none. They 
contain the Space Environments Complex, with the world's largest space 
test chamber.

  In its In-Space Propulsion building, it has a space chamber where you 
can fire an upper stage rocket. There is also a world-class clean-air 
hypersonic wind tunnel that even the Department of Defense didn't know 
about, and a space chamber to test equipment to simulate planetary 
surface conditions.
  Imagine what someone like Neil Armstrong had to learn in order to be 
successful in that history-making flight.
  These capabilities enable our scientists to prepare for the rigors of 
space exploration.
  The Plum Brook Station and test facility is a national asset. Today, 
it is being renamed after an American pioneer in human history. This 
year, Plum Brook Station finished testing the Orion spacecraft that 
will fly the Artemis I mission. This mission will eventually return a 
person to the Moon.
  Fifty-one years after Neil Armstrong captivated the world with his 
famous words that united humankind and allowed us to dream for a common 
purpose, the Nation turns our attention back to this test facility. How 
humble it was when he said, ``One small step for man, one giant leap 
for mankind.''
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to express my deep appreciation to 
Representative Anthony Gonzalez's partnership on this bill. I am 
pleased to see him managing the Republican time today. I couldn't be 
happier. He and his staff have been able to be collegial partners in 
securing a floor vote, and I thank him for that. I also thank our 
colleagues in the other body who have helped as well.
  I, along with the people of Ohio, are also extremely grateful to 
Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson; Ranking Member Lucas; our Senate 
colleagues, Senators Brown and Portman, for their bicameral partnership 
on today's legislation. This is the way Congress should work.
  In these days of uncertainty for our society and planet, renaming the

[[Page H7224]]

NASA test facility at Sandusky, Ohio, for Neil Armstrong offers a 
reminder to the world of our common purpose that can give us the giant 
leaps that lie ahead for humankind. Indeed, America must continue 
reaching for the stars and beyond.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2472, the Neil A. 
Armstrong Test Facility Act.
  Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Balderson).
  Mr. BALDERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Neil A. 
Armstrong Test Facility Act. The Buckeye State is honored to have been 
the home of American hero Neil Alden Armstrong.
  From the Wright brothers to the namesake of this legislation, Ohio 
boasts a rich history as leaders in the aerospace industry.
  Born in northwest Ohio, Neil Armstrong made history on July 21, 1969, 
as he uttered the words: ``That's one small step for man, one giant 
leap for mankind.''
  As the first human being to step foot on the Moon, Neil Armstrong 
inspired generations of Americans to literally follow in his footsteps.
  The United States owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. Armstrong for his 
service at NASA through multiple space exploration programs, as well as 
the U.S. Navy.
  The Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility Act would honor this American 
hero by bestowing his name on a critical NASA test facility station in 
Armstrong's home State of Ohio.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of the Neil A. 
Armstrong Test Facility Act.
  Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Neil Armstrong's heroism not only inspired a generation during the 
Apollo era, but also continues to inspire generations today as we look 
forward to the Artemis program.
  As America looks to send the first woman and next man back to the 
Moon, and as we look to Mars and beyond, renaming Plum Brook Station 
would be a great gesture of thanks for Armstrong's service to the 
Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking Mr. Gonzalez for his work on 
this legislation and to say how much of a privilege it has been to be 
able to serve with him and work with him on the Science, Space, and 
Technology Committee and on the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. 
Indeed, this is one among many ways that we have proven that there is 
still the ability to work together to achieve common ends.
  To my colleague, Ms. Kaptur from Ohio, thank you for your friendship 
and support. It is an honor to be able to work on issues that 
acknowledge and recognize the accomplishments of those heroes in the 
Apollo program who showed us what it means to come together to achieve 
something that has never been done before.

                              {time}  1630

  As we recognize Neil Armstrong with this renaming of this facility, 
it is in honor of perhaps one of the most well-known quotes of all 
time. Because of the magnitude of that accomplishment, ``One small step 
for man, one giant leap for mankind,'' was only made possible through 
the innovation and the effort of Neil Armstrong and so many others 
across this Nation who invested in the Apollo program.
  As an Oklahoman, although we cannot claim Neil Armstrong but can 
claim a rich heritage in the aerospace arena and have astronauts at 
every phase of the Apollo program, I can think of no more appropriate 
recognition of Neil Armstrong than to name this facility after him.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I urge a 
``yes'' vote. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Ms. Kendra S. Horn) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, S. 2472.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________