That the Senate—
remembers and honors the 7 astronauts who lost their lives on February 1, 2003, on Space Shuttle Columbia;
expresses deep condolences and gratitude to the families, friends, and colleagues of—
United States Air Force Colonel Rick D. Husband;
United States Navy Commander William “Willie” C. McCool;
United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Anderson;
United States Navy Captain David M. Brown;
United States Navy Captain Laurel B. Clark;
Dr. Kalpana Chawla; and
Israeli Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon;
commends all those who assisted in the debris recovery and accident investigation process, including helicopter pilot Jules “Buzz” F. Mier Jr. and Texas Forest Service Aviation Specialist Charles G. Krenek, who both died during debris search, and dedicated staff across the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and
reaffirms the commitment of the United States Government to create a culture of safety and innovation within all agencies and companies pursuing the exploration of space, including in the pursuit of the United States' return to the Moon and first visit to Mars through the Artemis missions and Moon to Mars efforts.