HONORABLE ENI F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. Speaker:

I rise today to pay tribute to the late crew of the space shuttle Columbia.  Like many of my colleagues, I had the privilege of traveling yesterday to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas to attend a memorial service for the seven heroes we lost on February 1, 2003.

 On behalf of the people of American Samoa, I now express American Samoa’s deepest condolences in this time of national tragedy.  As the Governor of American Samoa noted in his general memorandum issued on February 3, 2003, American Samoa shares a special relationship with the U.S. space program.  Five Apollo missions had splashdown landings near American Samoa.  For four of those landings, American Samoa was also the first landfall for our nation’s astronauts.

Like Americans everywhere, we grieve for the lost crew of the space shuttle Columbia.  We also grieve for the families they left behind.  Although our astronauts did not make it back to earth, we join with President Bush in praying that they made it safely home.  That their sacrifice may not have been in vain, the United States of America will remain committed to space exploration and we will also fully investigate the cause of Saturday’s accident.  

Once again, and on behalf of the people of American Samoa, I extend my deepest condolences and heart-felt sympathy to the families and friends of our lost crew.  I also pay special tribute and offer my personal condolences to the good people of Israel.  The thoughts and prayers of American Samoa are with you.  In this time of national and international mourning, may we find peace and may God bless America.