[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5363-5365]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             ``COLUMBIA'' SPACE SHUTTLE MEMORIAL STUDY ACT

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 807) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
special resource study to determine the feasibility and suitability of 
establishing a memorial to the Space Shuttle Columbia in the State of 
Texas and for its inclusion as a unit of the National Park Service.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 807

       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 ``Columbia Space Shuttle 
     Memorial Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Memorial.--The term ``memorial'' means a memorial to 
     the Space Shuttle Columbia that is subject to the study in 
     section 3(a).
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     SEC. 3. STUDY OF SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING 
                   MEMORIALS TO THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available, the Secretary shall conduct a 
     special resource study to determine the feasibility and 
     suitability of establishing a memorial as a unit or units of 
     the National Park System to the Space Shuttle Columbia on 
     land in the State of Texas described in subsection (b) on 
     which large debris from the Shuttle was recovered.
       (b) Description of Land.--The parcels of land referred to 
     in subsection (a) are--
       (1) the parcel of land owned by the Fredonia Corporation, 
     located at the southeast corner of the intersection of East 
     Hospital Street and North Fredonia Street, Nacogdoches, 
     Texas;
       (2) the parcel of land owned by Temple Inland Inc., 10 
     acres of a 61-acre tract bounded by State Highway 83 and 
     Bayou Bend Road, Hemphill, Texas;
       (3) the parcel of land owned by the city of Lufkin, Texas, 
     located at City Hall Park, 301 Charlton Street, Lufkin, 
     Texas; and
       (4) the parcel of land owned by San Augustine County, 
     Texas, located at 1109 Oaklawn Street, San Augustine, Texas.
       (c) Additional Sites.--The Secretary may recommend to 
     Congress additional sites in the State of Texas relating to 
     the Space Shuttle Columbia for establishment as memorials to 
     the Space Shuttle Columbia.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As we all remember, February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia 
suffered a tragic failure during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. 
As a result, seven crew members sadly lost their lives.

                              {time}  1500

  H.R. 807, introduced by Representative Gohmert, would authorize a 
study to determine how best to protect four parcels of land in east 
Texas where large portions of the wreckage were recovered. In addition 
to specific sites identified in the bill, the Secretary of the Interior 
would be authorized to recommend additional sites to Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, the Nation continues to mourn the loss of the Columbia. 
We support the passage of H.R. 807, an important step toward ensuring 
that the sacrifices made by her crew and their families will always be 
remembered. We

[[Page 5364]]

commend the Congressman for introducing this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield as much 
time as he may consume to the author of this particular piece of 
legislation, the distinguished and debonair Congressman from Texas (Mr. 
Gohmert).
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona 
for his kindness and sensitivity in this issue, as well as the 
gentleman from Utah.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to properly commemorate and memorialize one 
of this Nation's most heroic, yet heartbreaking, tragedies. The 
disintegration of the Space Shuttle Columbia as it re-entered Earth's 
atmosphere in the spring of 2003 deserves such a memorialization.
  This legislation will serve to begin the process of appropriately 
honoring the gallantry and sacrifice, not only of the seven brave souls 
of their crew and their families, but also the vast number of citizens 
who worked tirelessly in the recovery effort following the catastrophe. 
This bill will start that process that will ultimately result in 
appropriate memorialization of all the selfless and heroic efforts.
  Tragically, parts of the shuttle were strewn over hundreds of miles 
of east Texas in my district, and the commitment of east Texans in the 
effort to recover as much of the wreckage as possible was pivotal in 
determining the cause of the incident in order to save future lives.
  The ultimate sacrifice was made by Commander Rick Husband, Pilot 
William McCool, Payload Commander Michael Anderson, Mission Specialist 
David Brown, Mission Specialist Kalpana Chalwa, Payload Commander Ilan 
Ramon, and Mission Specialist and Medical Doctor Laurel Blair Salton 
Clark who was the wife of my Texas A&M classmate John Clark, who 
himself is also a patriot as a captain in the United States Navy. John 
and Laura also have a wonderful son. All of these American heroes 
deserve a memorial befitting their devotion to their fellow man, their 
spirit of exploration and discovery, as well as their courage.
  In the days and weeks following the tragedy, countless east Texans 
volunteered to help and support the tireless Federal workers who were 
charged with locating the shuttle debris.
  Volunteers gave selflessly of their time and their resources by 
participating in searches, opening their homes, preparing food and 
serving the many people taking part in the recovery effort in towns 
such as San Augustine, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Hemphill, as well as most 
of east Texas itself. San Augustine City Manager Duke Lyons said at the 
time the volunteers provided 3,000 to 4,000 meals per day in his area 
alone and did all that they could to provide shelter and anything else 
that was needed.
  The legendary hospitality of east Texas was on display as business 
owners donated supplies, building space and other assets to support the 
Forest Service, FEMA, National Guard, and other governmental entities 
taking part in the recovery. All told, east Texans spent countless 
weeks supporting the 10,000 people searching for the shuttle remains.
  The efforts of these constituents are best summed up by three fellow 
east Texans.
  Texas Ranger Pete Maskunas said, ``We got to see a small portion of 
east Texas pull together in a big way. The people here don't have much, 
but we gave everything that we had. We showed the Nation that, here in 
east Texas, we have got a big heart, and we are here to make things a 
lot better for people we don't even know.''
  San Augustine County Judge Wayne Holt said, ``From the smallest child 
to the oldest man, if you needed somebody, they were there.''
  Nacogdoches County Judge Sue Kennedy said, ``The generosity and 
unselfish, tireless efforts by the wonderful people of east Texas were 
so compelling and moving that even in 2007 we are being asked to teach 
seminars on how to mobilize an entire area in a sudden emergency.''
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 807, the Columbia Space 
Shuttle Memorial Study Act, because those involved deserve it. Thank 
you again to the chairman, the gentleman from Arizona, and the ranking 
member.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. The tragedy of the Space Shuttle Columbia has 
touched the hearts of all of us, and Mr. Gohmert should be commended 
for his attention to this.
  I urge adoption of the bill.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
support of H.R. 807, the Columbia Space Shuttle Memorial Study Act, a 
bill which would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
study on the feasibility and suitability of establishing a memorial to 
the Space Shuttle Columbia in Texas and including it within the 
National Park System. This legislation is an important step toward 
honoring the courage and contributions of the crew of STS-107 and 
toward continuing to heal as a nation four years after the tragedy of 
the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia.
  Just over four years ago, the Nation lost seven heroes, Michael 
Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, Rick Husband, 
Willie McCool, and Ilan Ramon. They were mothers and fathers, wives and 
husbands, daughters and sons, teachers and friends. There is one 
characteristic, however, that unites them all. They are all heroes in 
the truest sense of the word. We draw our strength and resolve from the 
example they set and we remain committed to our Nation's space program 
in their honor and because of all they have taught us. Today, we have 
the opportunity to further memorialize their contributions to space 
exploration and their inspirational lives by taking steps toward 
creating a permanent memorial to them and their service on behalf of 
our country in Texas.
  Guam has a unique relationship with one of the crew members, 
Lieutenant Commander William C. McCool, who piloted the Columbia on 
that fateful day. Commander McCool lived in Guam while his father 
served as a Navy pilot and he attended Dededo Middle School and John F. 
Kennedy High School. He later married Lani Vallejos of Dededo, Guam. 
While America lost a hero, Guam lost a son in the aftermath of the 
Columbia tragedy. Commander McCool blessed our island and indeed our 
country with his passion, intellect, and purpose. The people of Guam 
are proud to call him one of our own and will always remember him as a 
role model for our children. The inspiration Commander McCool has been 
to our people is something that will not fade and that can never be 
taken away.
  This memorial, as a part of the National Park System, will allow 
future generations to learn about the sacrifices the STS-107 crew made 
in the name of scientific advancements. It will be a testament to their 
courage and dedication to their colleagues and this Nation. I hope that 
the memorial will inspire all those who see it to believe in their 
dreams and their potential to achieve those dreams.
  The foundation of this country is built on the hard work and 
dedication of people with novel and exciting ideas. The crew of the 
Space Shuttle Columbia embodied these American ideals and believed in 
the need for scientific advancement and space exploration. A national 
memorial to their lives and dreams will continue to inspire the spirit 
of Americans.
  Let us always remember the courage and inspiration of the seven 
crewmembers of the Space Shuttle Columbia. This memorial, situated in 
the state where they dedicated their careers to space exploration, will 
be a testament to their lives and their legacy. I thank my colleague, 
Mr. Gohmert, for sponsoring this important legislation.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 807, the ``Columbia Space Shuttle Memorial Study Act,'' which 
directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
study to determine the feasibility and suitability of establishing a 
memorial to the Space Shuttle Columbia in the State of Texas and for 
its inclusion as a unit of the National Park System.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill because the seven astronauts whose 
lives were lost aboard Space Shuttle Columbia were extraordinary 
people. To the world those astronauts were valiant heroes; to us in 
Texas they were also friends, neighbors, and family.
  They made the ultimate sacrifice on a mission that benefited all of 
humanity. They deserve the highest level of honor, and their sacrifice 
and dedication must be commemorated in a way that will serve to inspire 
the next generation of explorers. We can never forget this magnificent 
seven, those heroes who explored the heavens: Rick D. Husband; Michael 
P. Anderson; Laurel Clark; David M. Brown; William C. McCool; Kapana 
Chawla; and Ilan Ramon.
  They were individuals of the highest caliber, always striving for 
excellence, and exemplifying the most noble of human traits. They

[[Page 5365]]

were skilled professionals, scientists, clinicians, adventurers, and 
family men and women. The crew represented the diversity of our 
nation--black and white, men and women, immigrant and native-born, and 
included a comrade from Israel embodying the international goals of 
peace and cooperation.
  The Columbia crew was deeply committed to the NASA mission. NASA 
provides insights into the origins, destiny, and wonder of the universe 
and is a source of dreams for young and old alike. These seven 
courageous explorers paid the ultimate price to advance our 
understanding of the universe, to advance our medical and engineering 
sciences, and to make the nation safer and more secure. Before the 
Columbia started its tragic descent, the shuttle crew completed some 80 
scientific experiments. Much of their research data had already been 
relayed to Houston where it has added to the pool of scientific 
knowledge.
  In the two previous Congresses, I introduced legislation authorizing 
the issuance of Congressional Gold Medals to the crew of Space Shuttle 
Columbia. In fact, 318 joined me in co-sponsoring that legislation but 
the bill was never brought to the floor for a vote.
  I have reintroduced the bill in the 110th Congress (H.R. 266) 
authorizing the coinage of a Gold Medal to pay proper tribute to our 
astronauts. One of the main reasons that the medal is bestowed is to 
make the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished 
achievements and contributions.
  Mr. Speaker, very shortly I will be introducing legislation 
authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to mint a coin commemorating 
the 50th Anniversary of NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For a 
half century, NASA and the JPL have been involved in many defining 
events occurred which have shaped the course of human history and 
demonstrated to the world the character of the people of the United 
States.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 807 and urge my colleagues to do 
likewise. I also invite all members to join me in bringing to a vote on 
the floor H.R. 266 to award Congressional Gold Medals to the crew of 
Space Shuttle Columbia and in supporting legislation to authorize the 
Secretary of the Treasury to mint a coin in commemoration of the 50th 
Anniversary of NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 807.
  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.

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