[Pages H7656-H7657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

COLUMBIA SPACE SHUTTLE MEMORIAL STUDY ACT

Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5692) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a
study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing
memorials to the Space Shuttle Columbia on parcels of land in the State
of Texas, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:

H.R. 5692

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, Nacog doches,
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.

[[Page H7657]]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Gohmert) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 5692, introduced by myself, would authorize 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
in the National Park System.
Madam 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 reentered earth's
atmosphere in the spring of 2003.
This legislation will serve to begin the process of appropriately
honoring the bravery and sacrifice not only of the seven heroic souls
of her crew and their families, but also of the numerous citizens that
lent a hand in the recovery effort following the catastrophe by
initiating a study of the Secretary of the Interior to determine the
suitability and feasibility of establishing memorials to the Space
Shuttle Columbia on parcels of land in East Texas where the major
debris from the shuttle was recovered.
Tragically, it was strewn over hundreds of miles in my district. The
commitment by my constituents in the effort to recover as much of the
wreckage as possible was pivotal in determining the cause of the
incident. These contributions, as well as those made by the crew of the
Columbia, deserve this recognition.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5692 and commemorate
ultimately the sacrifice by Commander Rick Husband, Pilot William
McCool, Payload Commander Michael Anderson, Mission Specialist David
Brown, Mission Specialist Kalpana Chalwa, Mission Specialist Laurel
Blair Salton Clark, and Payload Commander Ilan Ramon deserve a memorial
befitting their devotion to their fellow man, their spirit of
exploration and discovery, along with their courage.
I urge adoption of the bill.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I commend the leadership the gentleman from
Texas has shown on this important initiative, and we continue to mourn
the loss of the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia. It is our hope this
evening that the study we authorize today will help guide efforts to
appropriately memorialize the brave explorers who lost their lives in
that great tragedy.
Again, I thank my friend from Texas for his leadership and initiative
and encourage passage of this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the remainder of our time.
Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I have no
additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 5692, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill 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 System.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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