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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the State of Texas, |
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is pleased to honor the National Aeronautics and Space |
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Administration (NASA) for its intrepid exploration of space and |
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commend the agency for its many significant scientific discoveries; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The objectives of the Vision for Space Exploration |
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program are to safely use the space shuttle until its retirement, |
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complete and maintain the International Space Station, develop the |
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crew exploration vehicle, Orion, and return humans to the Moon and |
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send them to Mars and beyond; and |
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WHEREAS, The year 2006 was an outstanding one for space |
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exploration and included three successful space shuttle missions to |
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work on the International Space Station; Texas A&M University |
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graduate Michael Fossum and Stephanie Wilson, a graduate of The |
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University of Texas, flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery in |
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July, representing the State of Texas in space; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2007, NASA will continue building the |
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International Space Station and forge ahead, keeping the tradition |
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of Texans in space; three crewmembers of Mission STS-117 call Texas |
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home--James Francis Reilly II, John "Danny" Olivas, and Patrick |
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Graham Forrester; and |
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WHEREAS, Space exploration has ushered in new and exciting |
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technological advances that have benefited out nation's security, |
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safety, and communications; NASA has advanced our health-care |
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system through the development of MRI and CAT scan technology, |
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fetal heart monitors, programmable heart pacemakers, and other |
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valuable medical devices; and |
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WHEREAS, Through education programs like Texas Aerospace |
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Scholars, the NASA Explorer Schools, and the Network of Educator |
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Astronaut Teachers, NASA is nurturing a new generation of explorers |
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and scientists who can contribute to our nation's excellence; and |
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WHEREAS, The agency plays a vital role in the economy of the |
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Lone Star State by employing more than 3,400 civil servants and |
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approximately 13,000 contractor personnel at the Johnson Space |
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Center and by awarding more than $4 billion worth of NASA contracts |
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annually; small businesses across Texas with technical challenges |
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have benefited from NASA and the aerospace industry through the |
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support of the Technology Outreach Program, resulting in the |
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creation of new jobs and new business ventures within the state; and |
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WHEREAS, The Vision for Space Exploration is a bold |
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initiative that has the potential to inspire further innovation, |
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development, and advancement in the aerospace and other |
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high-technology industries across the nation and in the State of |
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Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The extraordinary contributions of NASA to science |
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and technology are the pride of our state, and its implementation of |
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the Vision for Space Exploration is truly deserving of legislative |
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recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of |
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Texas, 80th Legislature, hereby commend the National Aeronautics |
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and Space Administration on its outstanding accomplishments and |
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extend best wishes to the agency for many successful endeavors |
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through the Vision for Space Exploration program; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the |
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agency as an expression of highest regard from the Texas House of |
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Representatives. |