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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For more than 60 years, the National Aeronautics and |
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Space Administration has inspired our nation and the world with its |
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outstanding record of intrepid space exploration and scientific |
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discovery; and |
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WHEREAS, NASA's innumerable engineering advances have |
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greatly benefited our nation's security, safety, and |
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communications systems, and innovations pioneered by NASA |
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scientists and engineers have led to such improvements in |
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healthcare technology as the MRI and the CAT scan, the fetal heart |
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monitor, and the programmable heart pacemaker; and |
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WHEREAS, The agency's strong presence in the Lone Star State |
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has long been a source of pride for all Texans; the Johnson Space |
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Center in Houston is a global leader in human spaceflight, serving |
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as the training center for America's corps of astronauts; the |
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center is continuing that legacy by serving as the headquarters for |
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the development of the nation's latest spacecraft, the Orion |
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Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle; this effort includes working with |
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private partners and conducting advanced research that will |
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strengthen the future of space exploration; and |
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WHEREAS, The Johnson Space Center also plays a vital role in |
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the Texas economy, employing more than 3,000 civil servants and |
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approximately 12,000 civilian contractors and awarding $4.9 |
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billion in contracts every year; in addition, NASA's Space Alliance |
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Technology Outreach Program benefits small businesses across the |
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state, and through education programs such as Texas Aerospace |
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Scholars, NASA is nurturing and inspiring a new generation of |
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scientists, engineers, and explorers; and |
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WHEREAS, NASA continues to drive further innovation in the |
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aerospace and high-tech industries, and its development of |
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technologies that simultaneously reach for the stars and better our |
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lives here on Earth is truly deserving of special recognition; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 19, 2013, as Space Day at the |
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State Capitol and honor the National Aeronautics and Space |
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Administration for its immeasurable contributions to this state and |
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nation. |