[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 22000-22001]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                           A LEADER FOR SPACE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Horn) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, today, the House has taken final action on the 
appropriations bill that funds the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration. This is an appropriate time to recognize the 
extraordinary contributions of NASA Administrator Dr. Dan Goldin, whose 
energy and vision have been essential to continuing our Nation's 
leadership in space exploration.
  As he prepares to leave NASA and return to the private sector, we 
should recognize Dan Goldin's superb leadership during his tenure as 
head of America's space agency.
  My association with Dan Goldin began not long after I came to the 
House of Representatives in 1993. I learned that NASA was considering 
cutting jobs at the space shuttle manufacturing plant in Downey. We 
discussed NASA's plans over coffee in the Members Dining Room, and I 
told him of my concerns about further job losses in Southern 
California, where the economy already was devastated.
  I was impressed from the very beginning by Dan's forthrightness, his 
commitment to what he viewed as best for the space program, and his 
willingness to listen to new and different ideas. Unfortunately, the 
scale-down of the shuttle program and the consolidation of space-
related activities was unavoidable.
  The manufacturing plant in Downey, sadly, has been closed. Those who 
worked there have retired or have gone to other jobs in Southern 
California. These are the workers who developed and built the Apollo 
moon capsules, the Sky Laboratory, and all of our space shuttles.
  Throughout this process, Dan Goldin has been true to his word in 
working with me and the City of Downey to address hardships created by 
the closure and to overcome barriers to an orderly transfer of the NASA 
property to the City of Downey. He recognized the city's need to get on 
with its economic revitalization. He has consistently directed NASA 
officials in Washington and Houston to work with Downey to move 
forward.
  In October 1998, a ceremony was held in Downey for the transfer of 
the first parcels of the NASA property to the

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city. The transfer process had faced various delays and complications, 
but the ceremony was a great tribute to the strong working relationship 
that had been developed between NASA and the city in completing this 
difficult transition.
  NASA's timetable calls for completion of the process in March 2002. A 
number of steps are required between now and then, and it is critical 
for Downey that there be no slips in that time line. It already has 
been several years since the facility was closed. It is critical that 
Downey receive the final parcels so that its economic revitalization 
plan can move forward and the developer can begin working to restore 
the city's economy.
  We continue to work with Dan Goldin, Associate Administrator Sutton, 
and other senior NASA officials in this important effort. I know they 
will continue to do all they can to keep the schedule on track.
  I wish Dan Goldin all the best as he leaves NASA for new challenges. 
I know that Downey officials look forward to inviting Dan to visit the 
city so they can thank him for helping advance a much-needed economic 
recovery effort.
  Mr. Speaker, Dan Goldin is the ablest leader and executive of any 
major department in Washington during the years I have had in Congress. 
When President Clinton cut $5 billion from the NASA budget and the 
space shuttle program, many key people went elsewhere. They gave up. 
Dan Goldin refused to despair. Instead, he provided the leadership that 
was needed to pull the program together and continue NASA's vital 
missions.
  As a result, today we have an excellent space program and a growing 
partnership with Russia. Dan Goldin deserves our thanks for a job well 
done and our best wishes in all of his new endeavors. He has served our 
Nation well.

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