On the recordAugust 2, 2017
Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the historic event of the Great American Eclipse that will cross the continental United States on August 21. That morning, the eclipse will first pass over my home State of Oregon, then sweep across the U.S., ending in South Carolina. Millions of people across Oregon and the country are planning on watching those few moments when the moon will cover the sun and everything will go dark. It has been 99 years since a total solar eclipse has occurred across the entire country, and whether someone is 5 or 95, this may be the only time they will ever see a total eclipse. It is truly a once-in-a- lifetime event. This solar eclipse is a rare occurrence where the wonders of science will come right to the front doors of millions of people. That fact hasn't been lost on schools and science organizations throughout Oregon. Educators from the coastal areas of the State to the mountains of eastern Oregon have been working hard to use this eclipse as an opportunity to engage students in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, commonly called STEM. One of the best science museums in the country, the Oregon Museum of Science Industry, OMSI, has planned an amazing viewing party, with the hope of engaging folks of all ages in the science behind the eclipse. Oregon native Don Pettit, who is a NASA astronaut, will even be there to share his experience of viewing eclipses from the International Space Station.…
Source
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