WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives passed a bill today, H.Res. 490, commending the achievements of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. The bipartisan bill passed on a 389-0 vote.
The bill was jointly introduced by House Rules Chairman David Dreier (R-La Canada Flintridge) and Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena). The bill comes shortly after the spectacular landing of the Mars Rover Spirit, which has sent back pictures that have kept America riveted to their televisions, awaiting each new image.
"JPL has been the pioneer of our exploration of the solar system from the beginning of our space program, and I congratulate everyone associated with JPL on this latest achievement," said Schiff. "Even as we marvel at the three-dimensional photographs of Mars, we eagerly await the results of Spirit’s scientific mission and look forward to this Saturday’s landing of the second Rover, Opportunity."
Dreier also congratulated JPL. "Today we celebrate another milestone in space exploration - the successful landing of the Mars Rover Spirit and the beginning of its 90-day mission on the Red Planet," Dreier said. "We also rise to take note of and commend the scientists, engineers, and technicians who have worked for over three years to see this mission through successfully. ‘Best in the world’ is a pretty profound concept. Nevertheless, it applies to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory - a place doing the best work, and pushing the furthest boundaries, of anybody in its field. Literally, the best in the world."
"Every American space probe that has visited another planet was managed by JPL," Schiff added. "Whether it is witnessing dust storms on Olympus Mons, peering through Venus’s clouds at its broiling surface, or discovering new moons and ring systems around the outer planets, JPL has been involved in these efforts every step of the way. The men and women of JPL are truly remarkable and I congratulate Dr. Charles Elachi and his outstanding team of scientists on this tremendous accomplishment, and I look forward to working with JPL on future robotic exploration of space."
Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.