[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21159]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING NASA AND THE ``DISCOVERY'' CREW

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DeLAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2005

  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the gentleman 
from California's resolution honoring the men and women who led, 
launched, and piloted Space Shuttle Discovery out of our atmosphere, 
and into history.
  I had the opportunity earlier this afternoon to visit with 
Discovery's crew: Commander Eileen Collins, Jim Kelly, Charlie Camarda, 
Wendy Lawrence, Soichi Noguchi, Steve Robinson, and Andy Thomas.
  I have met them before, and they're as impressive in person as they 
will be in the history books.
  Last month, these seven astronauts--and the entire NASA family--took 
President Bush's new Vision for Space Exploration and turned it into a 
reality, taking the first small steps into the space age of the 21st 
century.
  The president's vision calls for the shuttle's return to flight to be 
followed by the completion of the International Space Station, the 
development of a new crew exploration vehicle, and eventual missions 
back to the moon and on to Mars.
  Discovery's mission to the space station began that process, and 
earlier this week, NASA announced its design and plans for the new 
spacecraft.
  America's space program is on a roll, and we will build on that 
momentum, Mr. Speaker, all the way from here to the red planet.
  The men and women of NASA represent the courage and drive that got 
our Nation into space and on the surface of the moon four decades ago.
  That spirit is now igniting a new generation of astronauts and 
engineers, who will take our Nation ever higher, ever farther, ever 
deeper into the unknown.
  The NASA community--whether here on earth or high above--have done 
heroic work in the last 2 years refocusing their efforts toward the 
president's vision.
  The goals he has put before them would seem almost impossible to most 
people--and that's exactly how our space community likes it.
  Congress and the entire Nation owe the Discovery's crew--and NASA's 
earthbound support staff--a debt of gratitude for their successful 
mission, and the only way to repay that debt is to make sure we work to 
finish the job they have so bravely started.

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