Federal

A resolution commemorating the 20-year anniversary of the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia.

Source: Congress.gov · 761 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This resolution honors the seven astronauts who died on Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003. The Senate formally remembers their sacrifice and expresses condolences to their families and friends. The bill also reaffirms the government's commitment to safety and innovation in space exploration.

Who It Affects

The families, friends and colleagues of the seven astronauts who died: Rick D. Husband, William "Willie" C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, David M. Brown, Laurel B. Clark, Kalpana Chawla and Ilan Ramon. The resolution also acknowledges Jules "Buzz" F. Mier Jr. and Charles G. Krenek, who died during debris search operations.

Key Provisions

• The Senate remembers and honors the seven astronauts who lost their lives on February 1, 2003, aboard Space Shuttle Columbia • The Senate expresses deep condolences and gratitude to the families, friends and colleagues of all seven crew members • The Senate commends those who assisted in debris recovery and accident investigation, including helicopter pilot Jules "Buzz" F. Mier Jr., Texas Forest Service Aviation Specialist Charles G. Krenek, and NASA staff • The Senate reaffirms the commitment of the United States Government to create a culture of safety and innovation within all agencies and companies pursuing space exploration, including efforts toward the Moon and Mars through the Artemis missions and Moon to Mars efforts

What Changes

Not specified in bill text. This is a commemorative resolution that expresses the Senate's position rather than creating new laws or requirements.

Important Definitions

None defined in bill text.

III 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 28 Commemorating the 20-year anniversary of the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 2, 2023 Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. KELLY, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. COR- NYN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. KAINE, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. PADILLA, Mr. WARNER, Mr. DURBIN, and Mr. SCOTT of Florida) sub- mitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commemorating the 20-year anniversary of the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia. Whereas space remains at the frontier of science, as ex- pressed in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy at Rice University in Houston, Texas; Whereas space exploration has been integral to the global technological leadership of the United States and to in- spiring a STEM workforce for more than 60 years; Whereas astronauts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have bravely given their lives in pursuit of exploration; Whereas, on February 1, 2003, the United States and the global space community joined together in mourning the VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Feb 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR28.ATS SR28 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 28 ATS loss of Space Shuttle Columbia and the 7 astronauts of the STS–107 mission, who perished on their return home; Whereas United States Air Force Colonel Rick D. Husband, Mission Commander, of Amarillo, Texas, died in service to his nation; Whereas United States Navy Commander William ‘‘Willie’’ C. McCool, Pilot, of San Diego, California, died in service to his nation; Whereas United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Anderson, Payload Commander and Mission Spe- cialist, of Spokane, Washington, died in service to his na- tion; Whereas United States Navy Captain David M. Brown M.D., Mission Specialist, of Arlington, Virginia, died in service to his nation; Whereas United States Navy Captain Laurel B. Clark, Mis- sion Specialist, of Racine, Wisconsin, died in service to her nation; Whereas Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D., Mission Specialist, of Karnal, India, became a United States citizen and the first woman of Indian origin in space and died in service her nation; Whereas Israeli Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon, Payload Spe- cialist, of Tel Aviv, Israel, became the first Israeli in space and died in service to his nation; Whereas the people of the United States will not forget the sacrifice of the crew of STS–107 aboard Space Shuttle Columbia, as well as others who perished in the explo- ration of space; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Feb 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR28.ATS SR28 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 28 ATS Whereas National Aeronautics and Space Administration as- tronauts continue to make tremendous personal sacrifices and risk their lives in service to their nation and to all of humanity: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) remembers and honors the 7 astronauts 2 who lost their lives on February 1, 2003, on Space 3 Shuttle Columbia; 4 (2) expresses deep condolences and gratitude to 5 the families, friends, and colleagues of— 6 (A) United States Air Force Colonel Rick 7 D. Husband; 8 (B) United States Navy Commander Wil- 9 liam ‘‘Willie’’ C. McCool; 10 (C) United States Air Force Lieutenant 11 Colonel Michael P. Anderson; 12 (D) United States Navy Captain David M. 13 Brown; 14 (E) United States Navy Captain Laurel B. 15 Clark; 16 (F) Dr. Kalpana Chawla; and 17 (G) Israeli Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon; 18 (3) commends all those who assisted in the de- 19 bris recovery and accident investigation process, in- 20 cluding helicopter pilot Jules ‘‘Buzz’’ F. Mier Jr. 21 and Texas Forest Service Aviation Specialist Charles 22 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Feb 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR28.ATS SR28 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 28 ATS G. Krenek, who both died during debris search, and 1 dedicated staff across the National Aeronautics and 2 Space Administration; and 3 (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United 4 States Government to create a culture of safety and 5 innovation within all agencies and companies pur- 6 suing the exploration of space, including in the pur- 7 suit of the United States’ return to the Moon and 8 first visit to Mars through the Artemis missions and 9 Moon to Mars efforts. 10 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Feb 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR28.ATS SR28 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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