<BillNo> <Sponsor>
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 486
By Sexton
HJR0486
006072
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A RESOLUTION to honor Elon Musk and SpaceX for their historic
rescue mission of two American astronauts who
were stranded on the International Space
Station.
WHEREAS, this General Assembly is pleased to recognize a brilliant businessman who
is saving lives and helping to restore America as a valuable ally of President Donald J. Trump;
and
WHEREAS, after nearly 300 days in orbit, Captain Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Captain
Sunita "Suni" Williams, who flew on Boeing's Starliner for its first crewed mission, returned to
Earth on March 18, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Captain Wilmore and Captain Williams arrived at the International Space
Station (ISS) in June 2024 for a scheduled eight-day stay as part of the Starliner's test flight;
however, technical issues prevented them from returning home on the spaceship; and
WHEREAS, Captain Wilmore and Captain Williams were stranded on the ISS for more
than nine months, awaiting transport back home; and
WHEREAS, in January 2025, President Trump asked Elon Musk to facilitate the return
of the two astronauts as soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, springing into action, Mr. Musk launched the SpaceX Dragon to rescue
Captain Wilmore and Captain Williams; and
WHEREAS, in the early morning of March 18, 2025, Captain Wilmore and Captain
Williams boarded the SpaceX Dragon to return to Earth; after a seventeen-hour voyage, the
Dragon made a water landing off the Florida coast that evening; and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Musk's expeditious action in launching this rescue mission is indeed
commendable and reflects his ongoing commitment to serving this nation and the American
people through common-sense leadership; and
WHEREAS, Captain Wilmore publicly thanked Mr. Musk and President Trump for their
facilitation of the rescue mission in an internet video that has now gone viral; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Musk has earned the undying gratitude of Americans from all walks of
life, and he is worthy of our approbation on this historic occasion; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
CONCURRING, that we honor and commend Elon Musk and SpaceX for their historic rescue
mission of two American astronauts who were stranded on the International Space Station and
thank Mr. Musk for bringing Captain Wilmore and Captain Williams back home as soon as
possible.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
without House or Senate designation.