Congressman Buck McKeon[1], representin' for all his 25th District peeps, has recently taken bold legislative action.
No, I'm not talking about his plea to give the town of Bishop $50,000 for a mule museum ("They are an integral part of the development of this country."[2]) but about something even more sweeping and necessary. House Resolution 3245 will change the name of NASA's nearby “Dryden Flight Research Center” to the “Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center”[3]. (Take a moment to regain your composure.) But don’t feel too bad for Dryden: if the legislation passes, the “Western Aeronautical Test Range” will become the “Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range”. Of course, one doesn't introduce something of this magnitude by oneself: House Representatives Calvert, McCarthy, and Schiff were there to help.
In a time where many are totally preoccupied with Iraq and illegal immigration, I'm glad that issues like this one aren't going unnoticed. As Rep. McKeon observed, "Neil Armstrong and Dr. Hugh Dryden embody the innovative spirit that continues to move NASA forward, inspiring the next generation of aerospace pioneers and advancing our legacy as the global leader in space exploration.[4]" Clearly, a vote for HR 3245 will be a vote to inspire those NASA scientists now yearning desperately for a boost in morale, a vote that might bring us back to the moon.
[1]Meet Buck
[2]The press release I'm quoting is available here
[3]My writing is informed by Jim Skeen's "NASA center may get Armstrong name" in the August 1st edition of the LA Daily News. He managed to limit himself to only 656 words on the story.
[4]That press release is here
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2 comments:
JUST WHERE IS THE LONG PROMISED BILL TO STOP CEMEX FROM DIGGING IN THE SCV? DID WE ALL FORGET BUCK'S PROMISE FOR THAT? TIME TO KICK THE BUM OUT!
I wonder the same thing, Anonymous. Obviously, when you introduce a bill in the final months of a session and you don't put any effort into getting it passed, it doesn't stand much of a chance. And, indeed, HR5471 did not pass. It died before it had even been debated.
There's nothing to stop McKeon from re-introducing similar legislation except for the more pressing need to rename aeronautical centers.
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