[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15534-15536]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING EMPLOYEES AT NASA'S MICHOUD ASSEMBLY FACILITY

  Mr. BOEHLERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 892) recognizing the dedication of the 
employees at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's 
Michoud Assembly Facility, the ``Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out Team'', who 
risked their lives during Hurricane Katrina's assault on southeast 
Louisiana, and kept the generators and pumps running to protect the 
facilities and flight hardware, and whose dedication kept the Michoud 
Assembly Facility an island of dry land, which made it possible to 
resume External Tank production less than 5 weeks after the storm 
passed, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 892

       Whereas the Michoud Assembly Facility plays a vital role in 
     the United States manned space flight program, including 
     production of the Shuttle External Tank, a vital component of 
     the Shuttle program;
       Whereas the 38 members of the ``Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out 
     Team'' who stayed behind during Hurricane Katrina risked 
     their lives in dedication to the space program and faced down 
     one of the greatest natural disasters in this Nation's 
     history, at great personal risk; and
       Whereas, if not for the dedication of this team, the 
     Michoud facility would have suffered a great loss of National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration assets and technology, 
     which would have severely limited the National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration's mission: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives commends the 
     dedication of the 38 members of the ``Michoud Hurricane Ride-
     Out Team'' who stayed behind at the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration's Michoud Assembly Facility and 
     protected vital program assets, which enabled the facility to 
     resume production of the Shuttle External Tank within 5 weeks 
     of Hurricane Katrina's landfall, including Ronald L. Adams, 
     Jr. of New Orleans, LA, Joseph Charles Barrett of Metairie, 
     LA, Donald K. Bollich of Metairie, LA, Frederick H. Castle of 
     Bay Saint Louis, MS, Daniel Alvine Doell of Terrytown, LA, 
     John Lee Fisher of Slidell,

[[Page 15535]]

     LA, James E. Ford II of Madisonville, LA, Stephen Lynn 
     Francis of New Orleans, LA, Monroe Lewis Frazier Jr. of 
     Harvey, LA, Ernest Graham of Picayune, MS, William Carl Hale 
     III of Slidell, LA, Willie Frederick Henderson III of New 
     Orleans, LA, Simmie Paul Herrin of Slidell, LA, Royal Kenneth 
     Holland of New Orleans, LA, Guy Mitchell Jackson of 
     Chalmette, LA, Ivory Jordan, Jr. of Lacombe, LA, Joe E. 
     Kennedy of Pearl River, LA, Donald P. Leon Jr. of New 
     Orleans, LA, Michael Wilson Moore of Metairie, LA, Daryl 
     Ordes of Pearlington, MS, Michael A. Parquet of Slidell, LA, 
     John Melvin Pucheu of Waveland, MS, George Elson Rogers, Sr. 
     of Kenner, LA, Steven L. Roshto Jr. of Slidell, LA, Alan J. 
     Rovira of New Orleans, LA, Joan B. Savoy of Saint Bernard, 
     LA, Vickie Ann Schmersahl of Slidell, LA, Patrick Shawn Shea 
     of Mandeville, LA, Henry Peter Sissac Jr. of New Orleans, LA, 
     Aline H. Sullwold of Picayune, MS, Steve Thompson of 
     Huntsville, AL, Richard Leowen Treat of Picayune, MS, Stephen 
     Avery Turner of Slidell, LA, Byran Dale Walker of Picayune, 
     MS, Edward Perry Watts Jr. of Metairie, LA, Roland C. 
     Williams of New Orleans, LA, Terry Michael Winchester of 
     Slidell, LA, and Malcolm Wayne Wood of Picayune, MS.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Boehlert) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOEHLERT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 892, as amended, the resolution 
now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 892, as amended, 
which recognizes the dedicated employees of NASA's Michoud Assembly 
Facility, the Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out Team. Knowing full well the 
potential for disaster and the impending danger they faced as Hurricane 
Katrina bore down on the gulf coast, 38 dedicated and heroic 
individuals put themselves in harm's way to save the Michoud Assembly 
Facility which is of vital importance to our Nation's civil space 
program.
  Located just 15 miles from New Orleans' French Quarter, this facility 
is where NASA constructs the space shuttle's external tanks. Before the 
shuttle, this facility was where NASA manufactured the gargantuan tanks 
on the Saturn rocket that took us to the moon, and in the future, NASA 
plans to use the facility to construct the rockets that will return us 
to the moon.
  These brave 38 individuals risked life and limb to protect this 
valuable facility that ensures our Nation's preeminence in space. 
Facing 178 mile-per-hour winds that ripped large chunks of surrounding 
buildings clean off, the intrepid ride-out team kept to its motto, 
``not on our watch.''
  By keeping generators and water pumps running throughout the storm, 
they managed to prevent the facility from flooding and preserved 
important flight hardware that has kept the space program on track. 
Because of the ride-out team's efforts, the facility was up and running 
only 5 weeks after the storm had passed. All of us watched the drama 
unfolding on television.
  After just 3 months, nearly all of the 2,000 employees had returned 
to the facility despite the fact that 600 of them had lost their own 
homes.
  By saving the facility and returning it to operation as quickly as 
they did, they were able to get to work right away on the external tank 
modifications necessary for the second return to flight mission that 
took place successfully, I might proudly boast, this month.
  Many of these individuals have rightly earned NASA's exceptional 
bravery medal from NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, but they are 
also worthy of the House's commendation as well.
  So it is with a great deal of pride in these dedicated Federal 
employees, who had so much on the line, not just in their careers, but 
in their personal lives, that I rise in support of this much overdue 
resolution, because as Administrator Michael Griffin stated earlier 
this year, ``not all of NASA's heroes fly in space.''
  Madam Speaker, these heroes have their feet rooted solidly on the 
ground and work so hard to do so much for so many. I proudly salute 
them.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GORDON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  First, Madam Speaker, let me point out this resolution before us 
today is because of the hard work of Representative Melancon from 
Louisiana. I thank our chairman for his help in bringing this before us 
today.
  Madam Speaker, I want to speak in strong support of House Resolution 
892, a resolution honoring the dedication of the employees of NASA's 
Michoud Assembly Facility who stayed at their post during Hurricane 
Katrina, and protected critical space program assets.
  Madam Speaker, as you know, during late August of last year, 
Hurricane Katrina severely assaulted Southeast Louisiana and the 
Mississippi coast, resulting in massive damage and the evacuation of 
large numbers of citizens.
  Yet, in the midst of the storm, there were countless examples of 
heroism. One example is the way in which 38 members of the Michoud 
Hurricane Ride-out Team stayed and protected the NASA Michoud Assembly 
Facility instead of fleeing the area.
  These people deserve our thanks and praise for their dedication to 
preserving the Michoud Assembly Facility during the hurricane's passage 
through the region. By risking their own lives, they assured that 
Michoud was preserved as a vital facility in spite of the devastation 
wrought by Katrina.
  During the hurricane, members of the ride-out team were able to keep 
the generators running, keep the pumps going, and protect the 
facilities and flight hardware that were entrusted to them. In 
addition, they were able to successfully ensure that the water from 
Hurricane Katrina did not overrun Michoud.
  Madam Speaker, due to the team's skill, knowledge, and most 
importantly, their dedication, Michoud's external tank production for 
the space shuttle program was able to resume less than 5 weeks after 
the storm.
  Madam Speaker, I think it is only fitting and proper that we honor 
these brave individuals for their heroic deeds, and I, once again, 
thank Representative Melancon for bringing this before us. I strongly 
urge passage of House Resolution 892.
  Mr. JEFFERSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the members of 
the ``Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out Team'' for their extraordinary efforts 
to protect NASA's Michaud Assembly Facility in the face of Hurricane 
Katrina. The employees of NASA, Lockheed Martin, and members of the New 
Orleans Fire Department who made up this team exhibited uncommon 
bravery and dedication. Cut off from the surrounding area due to 
roadway flooding, they remained on-site despite the lack of electricity 
and severely limited communications. These individuals willingly stayed 
on the facility in the face of the approaching storm and operated the 
pumps and generators that kept the facility dry.
  As a result of the team's commitment, damage to the facility and the 
external tanks and hardware they produce was minimal. Within 5 weeks, 
the Michoud Assembly Facility was resuming production operations. I 
would like to thank the members of the team once again for their 
courage. The nation is grateful for the contributions they have made to 
the space program.
  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 892, which 
recognizes the dedication of the employees at the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration, NASA, Michoud Assembly Facility. The end of 
next month is the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall on our 
Gulf coast. Today we celebrate the bravery exhibited by the ``Michoud 
Hurricane Ride-out Team,'' which saved not only the facility, but also 
our Nation's manned space program.
   Last week, both Houses of Congress passed H. Con. Res. 448, which 
commended the men and women of NASA, the crew of the Space Shuttle 
Discovery, and NASA Administrator Mike Griffin for the successful 
conclusion of the second return to flight test mission--STS-121. This 
would not have been

[[Page 15536]]

possible without the 38 brave members of the Michoud Ride-out Team. 
Many of the members of this team lost their homes and did not know the 
fate of their families until days after the Hurricane. They risked 
their lives manning generators and pumps at the Michoud Facility to 
protect the Shuttle's external tank program and, hence, the future of 
the manned space program.
  Despite the facility's proximity to the center of the hurricane's 
destructive path, only one external tank was damaged when a concrete 
panel fell and bounced off the side of the tank. Despite the extensive 
damage to the 832-acre facility and the entire surrounding area, the 
Ride-out team exhibited the bravery and the pride for the importance of 
the space program not only to our Nation, but also to the area in 
Louisiana.
  In September, as Chairman of the House Space and Aeronautics 
Subcommittee, I am planning to travel to both the Michoud Assembly 
Facility in Louisiana and the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. I am 
looking forward to meeting some of these brave individuals, both at 
Michoud and at Stennis. Since I became the Chairman of this 
Subcommittee in 2005, I have visited 7 of NASA's 10 facilities around 
the country. I am looking forward to visiting and to learning even more 
of the importance of these NASA centers to our Nation's space program. 
Today, I want to extend thanks and gratitude from the American people 
for the outstanding work of these brave individuals at both the Michoud 
Assembly Facility and at the Stennis Space Center.
  Mr. MELANCON. Madam Speaker, today I offer House Resolution 892, to 
give honor and thanks to those who braved Hurricane Katrina's fury in 
service to their country. As we approach the 1-year anniversary of 
Hurricane Katrina, I would like to recognize the men and women who 
stayed behind to protect NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in eastern 
New Orleans. The ``Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out Team'' was comprised of 
38 Lockheed and NASA employees who risked their lives to protect the 
facility that produces the Space Shuttle external fuel tank, a vital 
component of the Shuttle program. Were it not for their efforts, the 
Shuttle program could have been grounded for years. In fact, if Michoud 
had been destroyed by Katrina, the U.S. would not be able to fulfill 
its commitment to its international partners, as there would have been 
no way for the U.S. to ferry vital supplies to equip the International 
Space Station. The ``Ride-Out Team'' volunteered to stay and protect 
valuable space flight hardware critical not only to NASA's Space 
Shuttle Program, but to the future of human space exploration. The 
Michoud facility is a vital component of America's Vision for Space 
Exploration, since derivatives of the external tank are part of the 
design for the next generation space craft.
  As hurricane winds exceeded 130 mph and storm surge topped the 19 ft. 
levees surrounding the facility, the team worked tirelessly manning the 
pumping station and generators. After all was said and done, those 
dedicated individuals pumped more than 1 billion gallons of water out 
of the facility. Because of their efforts, operations at Michoud 
resumed mere weeks after Katrina's landfill.
  Many of the ``Ride-Out Team'' lost everything they owned to the storm 
and many didn't know what had happened to their families until days 
after the storm had passed. They persevered even though all land routes 
to the facility had been cut off and they had no electricity or water 
for 21 days.
  For their bravery in the face of unbelievable destruction and their 
unquestionable dedication to the space program, I ask this body to 
recognize the members of the ``Michoud Hurricane Ride-Out Team'' and 
commemorate their heroism and selfless contribution to the United 
States, and enable America to continue to lead the world in space 
exploration.
  Mr. GORDON. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 892, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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