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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 268
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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honor the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
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for its intrepid exploration of space and commend the agency for |
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its many significant scientific discoveries; 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 |
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to work on the International Space Station; Texas A&M University |
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graduate Michael Fossum and Stephanie Wilson, a graduate of |
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The University of Texas, flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery |
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in 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 |
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Texas home--James Francis Reilly II, John "Danny" Olivas, and |
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Patrick 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 our 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 |
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explorers and scientists who can contribute to our nation's |
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excellence; and |
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WHEREAS, The agency plays a vital role in the economy of |
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the Lone Star State by employing more than 3,400 civil servants |
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and approximately 13,000 contractor personnel at the Johnson |
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Space Center and by awarding more than $4 billion worth of NASA |
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contracts annually; small businesses across Texas with technical |
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challenges have benefited from NASA and the aerospace industry |
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through the support of the Technology Outreach Program, |
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resulting in the creation of new jobs and new business ventures |
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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 |
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State of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The extraordinary contributions of NASA to |
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science and technology are the pride of our state, and its |
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implementation of the Vision for Space Exploration is truly |
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deserving of legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, |
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80th Legislature, hereby commend the National Aeronautics and |
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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 |
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the agency as an expression of highest regard from the |
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Texas Senate. |
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Jackson, Janek |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on February 19, 2007. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |