[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11643]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO AWARD THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO 
             THE CREW OF THE APOLLO 11 MISSION TO THE MOON

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                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2009

  Mr. GRAYSON. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I introduce 
legislation today to award the Congressional Gold Medal to four brave 
and exemplary Americans: Commander Neil A. Armstrong, Command Module 
Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. ``Buzz'' Aldrin, 
Jr.--the crew of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. Additionally, 
this legislation would award a Congressional Gold Medal to John Glenn, 
the first American to orbit the earth and the man who helped set NASA 
firmly on the path of human space exploration. Forty years ago, five 
hundred million people watched as Armstrong took those fateful steps 
onto the Moon's surface, the first time humans had set foot on another 
world. In words that were as poetic as the occasion was meaningful, 
Armstrong said, ``That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for 
mankind.'' He was shortly followed on the Moon's surface by Aldrin, as 
Collins circled overhead.
  I was eleven years old that day, and I watched the Moon landing, 
joining much of humanity in celebrating this tremendous collective 
accomplishment. My family was on vacation, but I had persuaded my 
parents to let me stay in the hotel room alone all day and watch 
television, so I could see these giant men take those giant steps. 
Their mission was a landmark for America, for the world, and for all 
time. Americans are still inspired by these men, and their mission to 
travel over 250,000 miles of dead space to reach our closest celestial 
neighbor. I remember at the time thinking that humankind as a species 
is capable of true greatness. While wolves howl at the moon, humans 
visit it.
  On this journey, the Apollo 11 crew showed remarkable bravery 
protected for days from the lifeless vacuum by only a thin metal 
shield. They collected more than forty pounds of lunar samples, took 
photographs, and deployed experiments to study the solar wind, lunar 
dust, enable laser ranging, and forever carry out passive seismic 
measurements. Their footprints remain on the Moon today. The entire 
endeavor was the culmination of an intensive effort by tens of 
thousands of scientists, engineers, and other dedicated individuals to 
meet the challenge laid down by President John F. Kennedy eight years 
earlier. President Kennedy encouraged Americans to rise to challenges, 
like this one, and the American people responded with ingenuity, 
discipline, and a spirit of cooperative effort. This journey took 
political will, scientific and technological risk-taking, inspiration, 
and the heart and soul of millions of Americans supporting the space 
program. And it took the competence and courage of Armstrong, Aldrin, 
and Collins to make Apollo 11 the success that it was.
  As the culmination of the U.S.-Soviet space race that commenced with 
the Soviet's launch of Sputnik in 1957, Apollo 11's success signified 
the United States' ability to establish preeminence in space. It also 
helped inspire a generation to pursue careers in science and 
engineering, and to believe in the power of American society. Alone in 
that hotel room, watching TV, I certainly felt a lasting sense of 
meaning, that connection to those three brave astronauts. These 
astronauts represented in that moment America's destiny, a destiny 
shared by the thousands of men and women who worked to make it happen. 
This includes John Glenn, of course, another brave pioneer of human 
space exploration who had made their journey possible.
  Madam Speaker, I thus think it is only fitting that in this fortieth 
anniversary year of the Apollo 11 mission, we grant these four brave 
Americans the recognition that only this Congress can bestow--the 
Congressional Gold Medal. That is why I am introducing legislation to 
that effect today. I'm pleased to be joined in this initiative by the 
Chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, Bart Gordon; 
the Chairwoman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, Gabrielle 
Giffords; Committee Ranking Member Ralph Hall; Subcommittee Ranking 
Member Pete Olson; and Florida Members Suzanne Kosmas and Bill Posey. I 
believe this recognition is long overdue, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation so that it can be enacted into law.

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