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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For more than 50 years, the National Aeronautics and |
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Space Administration has played a vital role in the life of the |
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nation and the State of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Created by Congress in 1958, NASA ushered in an era |
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of exciting innovations that have contributed to our nation's |
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security, safety, and communications; from medical advances, |
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including MRI and CAT scan technology, fetal heart monitors, and |
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programmable heart pacemakers, to explorations of space and |
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important scientific discoveries about our solar system and beyond, |
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NASA has inspired generations of Americans; and |
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WHEREAS, The agency has especially benefited the people of |
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Texas; the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston is the home of |
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America's astronaut corps, the site of mission control, and NASA's |
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lead center for the International Space Station; it employs more |
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than 3,300 civil servants and some 13,000 contractors and awards |
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$5.3 billion in annual contracts; and |
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WHEREAS, NASA's Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program |
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has helped small businesses with technical challenges, resulting in |
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the creation of new jobs and business ventures, and the agency's |
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technological breakthroughs have positively impacted all of the |
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state's major industries; furthermore, through such programs as |
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Texas Aerospace Scholars, the NASA Explorer Schools, and the |
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Network of Educator Astronaut Teachers, NASA has nurtured and |
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inspired countless young people to become scientists, engineers, |
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and explorers; and |
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WHEREAS, The year 2010 was significant for NASA as it |
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celebrated the passage of the NASA Authorization Act, the 10th |
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anniversary of the International Space Station, and the successful |
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completion of three shuttle missions; in 2011, the agency will |
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finish assembling the ISS and retire the shuttle fleet after two |
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more missions; and |
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WHEREAS, NASA is a valued and indispensible part of the |
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economy and culture of the Lone Star State, and Texans may indeed |
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take great pride in the agency's extraordinary contributions to |
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human knowledge, the spirit of exploration, and the progress of |
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science and technology; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the accomplishments and ongoing legacy of |
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the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and recognize |
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March 31, 2011, as Space Day; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for NASA as an expression of high regard by the Texas House |
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of Representatives. |