[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H6019-H6021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE MERCURY 13 WOMEN
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 421) honoring the trailblazing accomplishments of
the ``Mercury 13'' women, whose efforts in the early 1960s demonstrated
the capabilities of American women to undertake the human exploration
of space.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
[[Page H6020]]
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 421
Honoring the trailblazing accomplishments of the ``Mercury
13'' women, whose efforts in the early 1960s demonstrated the
capabilities of American women to undertake the human
exploration of space.
Whereas all of the Mercury 13 women were accomplished
pilots with commercial ratings or better and at least 2,000
hours of flying time;
Whereas the Mercury 13 women passed the same rigorous
physical and psychological tests that the original Mercury 7
astronauts had to undergo;
Whereas the Mercury 13 women successfully completed their
testing at the Lovelace Clinic, in Albuquerque, New Mexico by
the end of 1961;
Whereas the Mercury 13 women were prepared to continue
their contributions to America's space program at the Naval
School of Aviation Medicine in Pensacola, Florida, by
undergoing advanced aeromedical examinations using jet
aircraft and military equipment, until they were informed
that their testing program was canceled;
Whereas the Soviet Union flew the first woman in space in
1963;
Whereas the United States flew the first American woman in
space, Dr. Sally Ride, in 1983;
Whereas the United States flew the first woman to pilot the
Space Shuttle, Lt. Col. Eileen Collins, in 1995;
Whereas the Mercury 13 women served as pathfinders for
NASA's female astronauts; and
Whereas the careers of accomplishment of the Mercury 13
women can serve as an inspiration for other young women who
are considering pursuing a career in aviation, astronautics,
science, or engineering: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes and honors the contributions of Myrtle
Cagle, Geraldyn ``Jerrie'' Cobb, Jan Dietrich, Marion
Dietrich, Mary Wallace ``Wally'' Funk, Jane Briggs Hart, Jean
Hixson, Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen, Irene Leverton, Sarah Lee
Gorelick Ratley, Bernice Trimble Steadman, Geraldine
``Jerri'' Sloan Truhill, and Rhea Hurrle Allison Woltman; and
(2) encourages young women to follow in the footsteps of
the Mercury 13 women and pursue careers of excellence in
aviation and astronautics, as well as in engineering and
science.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oregon (Mr. Wu) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Feeney) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.
General Leave
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H. Res. 421.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oregon?
There was no objection.
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the trailblazing accomplishments
of the Mercury 13 women, whose efforts in the early 1960s demonstrated
the capabilities of American women to undertake the human exploration
of space. The Mercury 13 women were Myrtle Cagle, Geraldyn ``Jerri''
Cobb, Jan Dietrich, Marion Dietrich, Mary Wallace ``Wally'' Funk, Jane
Briggs Hart, Jean Hixson, Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen, Irene Leverton,
Sarah Lee Gorelick Ratley, Bernice ``Bea'' Trimble Steadman, Geraldine
``Jerri'' Sloan Truhill, and Rhea Hurrle Allison Woltman.
All of these Mercury 13 women were accomplished pilots with
commercial ratings or better and at least 2,000 hours of flying time,
and they passed the same rigorous physical and psychological tests that
the original Mercury 7 astronauts underwent. The Mercury 13 women were
prepared to continue their service to America's space program, until
they were informed that their testing program was cancelled.
While the former Soviet Union flew the first woman in space in 1963,
it was another 20 years before the United States flew Dr. Sally Ride as
the first American woman in space in 1983.
Mr. Speaker, I seek support for H. Res. 421 to honor the Mercury 13
women pioneers and to encourage young women to follow in the footsteps
of the Mercury 13 women in pursuing careers of excellence in aviation
and astronautics as well as in engineering and science.
Times do change. I spent a chunk of my time last week at home during
recess handing out space camp scholarships. At every stop, it wasn't
clear whether the winner was going to be a boy or a girl; and the
enthusiasm for space seemed to be relatively equal between the boys and
the girls in the classes where we made such awards.
{time} 1110
In an aside, I would like to welcome China as a new nation among
space-faring nations. There is an old Chinese saying, as there always
is, that women hold up half the sky, and this recognition that American
women have been participating in space long before 1983 is very, very
appropriate at this point in time.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend from Oregon for his
resolution. I want to rise today in support of House Resolution 421,
which honors the accomplishments of the so-called Mercury 13 women
whose efforts in the early 1960s demonstrated the capabilities of
American women to undertake human space exploration.
At a time when there were many prejudices against women, the Lovelace
Clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, began testing female pilots to
undertake human exploration of space under the same rigorous, physical
and psychological standards as NASA's male astronauts.
In 1960, the first of the Mercury 13, Geraldyn ``Jerrie'' Cobb went
to Lovelace Clinic, and by the end of 1961, 13 women had successfully
completed this rigorous training. Following their testing program, the
13 women were prepared to continue their contributions to America's
space program at the Naval School of Aviation Medicine in Pensacola,
Florida and undergo advanced aeromedical examinations using jet
aircraft and military equipment, but their program was canceled.
The careers and accomplishments of these great American women served
as an inspiration for many other young women that followed in their
careers in aviation, astronautics, science and engineering.
This resolution recognizes the accomplishments of Myrtle Cagle,
Geraldyn ``Jerrie'' Cobb, Jan Dietrich, Marion Dietrich, Mary Wallace
``Wally'' Funk, Jane Briggs Hart, Jean Hixson, Gene Nora, Stumbough
Jessen, Irene Leverton, Sarah Lee, Gorelick Ratley, Bernice Trimble
Steadman, Geraldine ``Jerri'' Sloan Truhill, and Rhea Hurrle Allison
Woltman.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 421 and
again thank the gentleman from Oregon.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Wisconsin, Dr. Kagen, and thank him for his leadership in bringing this
legislation to the floor.
Mr. KAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from Oregon and
Florida. I appreciate their support on this important resolution.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 421, to honor the first
American women to participate in the United States space program. Known
as the Mercury 13, they were extremely accomplished pilots and aviators
and were selected from a pool of women to become astronauts. Conducted
in secret at the Lovelace Clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, they
excelled in the same physical and psychological tests as the male
candidates for astronautic school did, the Mercury 7.
Although many of these women outshined and outperformed their male
counterparts, they were never allowed to fly into space. The prejudice
of the day grounded their mission before they could reach the stars,
but it did not ground their dreams.
In 1961, just before their final phase of training at the Naval
Aviation Center in Pensacola, Florida, the Mercury 13 women received
notice that the program had been canceled. Twenty-two years later, NASA
sent our first American woman into space, Sally Ride.
In these past decades, the groundbreaking achievements of the Mercury
13 women have often been overlooked. Author Martha Ackmann wrote this
about the Mercury 13 and their quest for flying into space:
``While the Mercury 13 did not get their shot at space--at least not
yet--
[[Page H6021]]
they refused to let someone else trim their dreams. They fought for
what they wanted, what they believed in, and spoke out against
discrimination.''
The Mercury 13 women, as already stated, were Jerrie Cobb, Gene Nora
Jessen, Wally Funk, Irene Leverton, Myrtle ``K'' Cagle, Jane Hart,
Jerri Truhill, Rhea Hurrle Woltman, Sarah Ratley, Bernice ``B''
Steadman, Jean Hixson, Jan Dietrich, and Marion Dietrich.
I had the honor of meeting several of these very tough and spirited
women at the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh in a commencement
ceremony, and I was privileged and honored to present to the Mercury 13
women an honorary degree, an honorary doctorate. Today, I have the
extreme privilege to honor these phenomenal and extraordinary women on
the floor of the United States House of Representatives.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and their pioneering
spirit that has advanced the rights of women everywhere. As these
Mercury 13 women have demonstrated, the sky is not the limit.
Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform my friend from Oregon
that I have no further speakers and am prepared to reserve my time
until it is appropriate to close.
Mr. WU. There are no further speakers on this side, either, if the
gentleman would care to close.
Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, again I want to thank my colleagues for
their support for the great history of the Mercury 13. I should say
since that Mercury 13 program, there have been 34 women that have flown
aboard the space shuttle, including four who made the ultimate
sacrifice in the Challenger and Columbia accidents.
In order to honor such dedication after the Columbia accident,
America committed to a vision for space exploration that will return
Americans to the Moon. Undoubtedly, several women will make that
journey. I look forward to that moment when the first American woman
steps on the Moon and shares her experience with the rest of the world.
This resolution by the gentleman from Oregon and others recognizes
the first 13 women that helped propel an entire gender and an entire
nation into space.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WU. I thank the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to recognize the good work of my
colleague from Wisconsin, Dr. Kagen, for bringing this legislation to
the floor. It is timely and it is timely recognition of a space program
that includes everyone from America and now, because of the
international space station and international space efforts, includes
many people from around the world.
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer strong support for House
Resolution 421, honoring the extraordinary accomplishments and
courageous journey of the Mercury 13 women. Though largely unrecognized
in history, these 13 female pilots displayed determination, bravery and
strength in their quest for space exploration.
Selected from a large group of women, the Mercury 13 pilots endured
and passed the same grueling physical and psychological tests as the
Mercury 7 male astronauts. These women however, were tested not only on
their ability to withstand the toils of space exploration but also on
their capacity to overcome extensive discrimination in both their
careers and personal lives. When championing their cause, the women
were repeatedly told by government officials that any effort to put a
woman in space was a waste of time and money. Given this lack of U.S.
support, Valentina Tereshkova, a Russian engineer, became the first
woman in space on June 16, 1963. It would be many years later, in 1983,
that Dr. Sally Ride would become the first American woman in space.
Although the women of Mercury 13 were barred from space travel,
disappointment did not lessen their pioneering spirit and quest for
equality. We must follow their lead. Given our country's shortcomings
in 1963, it is our responsibility today to ensure that future
generations of women are granted equal opportunities to follow their
dreams.
These courageous women demonstrate that the sky is not the limit and
that as a Nation we must ensure that all individuals, regardless of
gender, race or ethnicity, are encouraged to venture into the fields of
math, science, technology and engineering. I believe we must instill
the spirit of the Mercury 13 into our children today, by supporting
innovative programs such as the National Science Foundation that
promote technology in the classroom. By creating an environment in this
country that fosters innovation and growth, we will ensure our
businesses and workforce can stay competitive in the global economy of
the 21st century. From new education technology and better math and
science teachers to train the next generation of innovators, to the
promotion of new sources of energy and the expansion of markets for our
products, this comprehensive agenda will create a strong foundation to
build the economy of the future.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to capitalize on this opportunity
to extend an honor to the women of Mercury 13 and to ensure we never
again allow gender inequality to restrict our citizens' ambition and
potential.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in
support of H. Res. 421.
This resolution recognizes the brave ``Mercury 13'' women who in the
early 1960s undertook the human exploration of space.
The members of the ``Mercury 13'' include Myrtle Cagle, Geraldyn
``Jerrie'' Cobb, Jan Dietrich, Marion Dietrich, Mary Wallace ``Wally''
Funk, Jane Briggs Hart, Jean Hixson, Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen, Irene
Leverton, Sarah Lee Gorelick Ratley, Bernice Trimble Steadman,
Geraldine ``Jerri'' Sloan Truhill, and Rhea Hurrle Allison Woltman.
The ``Mercury 13'' women successfully passed the same physical and
psychological tests as those of their male counterparts, the ``Mercury
7.''
Just before leaving for the next phase of training at the Naval
Aviation Center in Pensacola, Florida, they were told not to come.
In 1961, their efforts marked a milestone in American history and
these women paved the way for those who would follow in their
footsteps.
The Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas has been the leading NASA
center for more than 40 years and continues to encourage women to
participate in the area of space exploration.
H. Res. 421 is an important way to help young women understand the
importance of space and science.
As of today, there have been 34 women in space, and although this is
a great accomplishment, there should be more.
It is my hope that this resolution encourages girls to pursue what
they may feel is impossible.
The ``Mercury 13'' continue to inspire women of all ages to go above
and beyond, so that they can fulfill their dreams. The sacrifices of
these women deserve to be honored.
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in
support of H. Res. 421, a resolution to honor the achievements of women
in space exploration.
In the 1960s, a courageous group of women challenged themselves, and
the stereotypes of our Nation, to become the First Lady Astronaut
Trainees.
These women were all accomplished pilots with a dream to explore the
unknown.
Thirteen of these women--``the Mercury 13''--were chosen to be part
of America's space team, breaking boundaries with their passion and
determination.
Though the program was discontinued before these women could actually
fly in space, they paved the way for future female astronauts through
their hard work and relentless efforts.
Finally, NASA got the message and began recruiting women again,
starting with the class of 1978 astronauts and culminating in the first
American woman in space in 1983.
Without the efforts of the Mercury 13, women with skills and interest
in science and exploration would have had a much tougher time breaking
through gender barriers.
The Mercury 13 women saw roadblocks as challenges to overcome.
I hope that all of the young women in my district and across America
may be inspired to make change by their example.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important
resolution.
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu) that the House suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 421.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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