posted 08-07-2018 03:05 PM               

NASA's 'Hidden Figures' put forward for Congressional Gold Medal

U.S. lawmakers have plotted a trajectory towards bestowing the nation's highest civilian award to four of NASA's "Hidden Figures" — African American women whose roles as human "computers" helped to open outer space to astronauts in the early 1960s.

Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), along with 44 of their colleagues, have introduced a bipartisan bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Christine Darden. The "Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act" (S.3321) aims to recognize the four women for their contributions to NASA's success during the early years of human space exploration and "highlight their broader impact on society; paving the way for women, especially women of color, in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

posted 09-13-2018 06:43 PM               

Ranking Member Johnson and Vice Chairman Lucas Introduce the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act

Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced H.R. 6795, the "Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act." Vice Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) is an original cosponsor of the legislation. This bill awards the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's highest civilian honor, to Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and all the women computers, mathematicians, and engineers at NASA, and its precursor organization NACA, who devoted their talents in service to the United States through World War II, the Space Race, and the Cold War. During this period, women submitted their work anonymously, were paid less than their male peers, and had few opportunities for career advancement. In addition, women of color were initially subjected to the indignity of segregated dining and bathroom facilities.

Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced a Senate version of the legislation, S. 3321, honoring Ms. Johnson, Jackson, Vaughan, and Darden in early August.

Ranking Member Johnson said, "The contributions of women mathematicians and engineers to the warfighting effort have for too long gone unrecognized. While hundreds of women helped bring about the Nation's crowning technological achievement, landing the first man on the moon, their names are largely lost to history.

"Despite the numerous challenges they faced, women like Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden faced, they persevered. Their accomplishments are inspiring for us all and will, I hope, inspire young girls to consider careers in STEM fields. The positive attention being paid to their individual stories and stories of the hundreds of women working alongside them is well deserved and long overdue."

"From time to time, it is important for Congress to recognize citizen trailblazers who defied odds and tore down barriers," said Congressman Lucas. "It is a great privilege to be able to honor the work of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Dr. Christine Darden. The female mathematicians, engineers, and computers at NACA and NASA from the 1930s to the 1970s went above and beyond the call of duty, playing integral roles in some of America's greatest scientific achievements. It is my honor as Vice-Chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee to give long-overdue recognition to these four women and their female colleagues."

posted 02-27-2019 07:36 PM               

Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas Introduce Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act

In recognition of Black History Month, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) today introduced H.R. 1396, the "Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Metal Act." This bill awards the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's highest civilian honor, to Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and all the women computers, mathematicians, and engineers at NASA, and its precursor organization the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Their stories, portrayed in the Hidden Figures book and film, represent the stories of hundreds of women working at NASA and NACA from the 1930s to the 1970s.

During this period, women submitted their work anonymously, were paid less than their male peers, and had few opportunities for career advancement. In addition, women of color were initially subjected to the indignity of segregated dining and bathroom facilities.

Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced a Senate companion of the legislation today.

"Katherine Johnson, Dr. Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and all the women of NASA during this time were pioneers," Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). "In spite of the challenges these women faced, they chose to apply their considerable talents to help land the first man on the moon. The success of the NASA space program is due in large part to their brilliance, hard work, and perseverance in the face of adversity."

"I am pleased to be joined by Ranking Member Lucas and our colleagues in the Senate in introducing the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. I commend Senator Coons for his leadership in championing this bill," said Chairwoman Johnson.

"Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Dr. Christine Darden exemplify the incredible drive and dedication required for NASA's unprecedented achievements during the space race," said Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK). "Their contributions to computing, engineering, programming, and aeronautics are all the more impressive given the barriers to success they faced. For too long, their work went unrecognized. It's a privilege to sponsor this bill to award them, and the many other women who contributed to the space race, the Congressional Gold Medal. Their lives and careers will continue to inspire Americans for years to come."

"I am proud to introduce this bill with my colleagues to honor Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Dr. Christine Darden and all women who contributed to NASA during the Space Race with Congressional Gold Medals," said Senator Coons. "Women played an important role at NASA during the Space Race, but for many years their accomplishments remained hidden. This bill will help recognize these extraordinary women and bring their accomplishments into the light so they can serve as an inspiration to younger generations of women in science, particularly those of color."

posted 09-20-2019 09:41 AM               

House Passes Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act

Today (Sept. 19), the House of Representatives considered and passed under suspension of the rules H.R. 1396, the "Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act." This bill, cosponsored by 314 Members of Congress, awards the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's highest civilian honor, to Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and all the women computers, mathematicians, and engineers at NASA, and its precursor organization the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), who devoted their talents in service to the United States from the 1930s to the 1970s through World War II, the Space Race, and the Cold War.

"In the early days of the space program, women and their talents were critically important but often overlooked," said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). "Women were typically not permitted to serve in any visible positions or recognized publicly for their contributions. Women of color faced the additional daily indignity of racial segregation. In spite of these challenges, these women chose to apply their considerable talents to help achieve what was arguably one of the nation's crowning technological achievements, landing the first humans on the moon. The success of the NASA space program was due in large part to their brilliance, hard work, and perseverance in the face of adversity."

"During the Space Race, pioneering women like Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden were working in the background, making critical contributions as they overcame racial and gender barriers," said Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK). "Their achievements in computing, engineering, programming, and aeronautics are all the more impressive given the challenges they faced. Awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal honors their lives and work and ensures they will continue to inspire Americans for years to come."

"This is an exciting opportunity to honor the pioneering generation of female mathematicians for their commitment and service to NASA and to our country," said Margot Lee Shetterly, author of Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. "The women who did this work came from across our country and each of their hometowns should embrace them as heroes."

posted 10-18-2019 08:18 AM               

Senate Passes Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act

Today [Oct. 17, 2019], the Senate considered and passed the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. This bill awards the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's highest civilian honor, to Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and all the women computers, mathematicians, and engineers at NASA, and its precursor organization the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), who devoted their talents in service to the United States from the 1930s to the 1970s through World War II and the Space Race.

Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement.

"I want to thank my colleagues, Senator Coons, Senator Murkowski, Senator Harris, and Ranking Member Lucas, for their hard work in advancing this bill to the President's desk. Acknowledging the many women who have not been given the recognition they deserve for their contributions to technological advancement and competitiveness in the US has become one of my greatest privileges as a Member of Congress. I very much look forward to this bill being signed into law, and to publicly crediting Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and all the women computers, mathematicians, and engineers at NASA and NACA for the integral roles they played in our space program."

posted 11-08-2019 03:15 PM               

NASA's 'hidden figures' to be awarded Congressional Gold Medals

Four of NASA's "hidden figures," together with all of the women who contributed to the agency's success in the space race to the moon, will be honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian awards in the United States.

President Donald Trump on Friday (Nov. 8) signed into law the "Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act," which provides for the award to mathematician Katherine Johnson and engineer Christine Darden, as well as the posthumous award to engineer Mary Jackson and computer programmer Dorothy Vaughan.

The act also calls for a fifth gold medal recognizing "all women who served as computers, mathematicians and engineers at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration between the 1930s and the 1970s."

posted 12-11-2019 11:49 AM               

'Hidden Figures' Honored at U.S. Capitol for Congressional Gold Medal

NASA's always been a unifying force even during our country's most turbulent times.

Last month, President Donald J. Trump signed the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. The legislation awards four female African-American NASA mathematicians, engineers and researchers, highlighted in the 2016 book and movie "Hidden Figures," with congressional gold medals. The highest civilian award will be given to Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Dr. Christine Darden, individually. The women worked at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia in the late 1950s.

A fifth medal will honor thousands of other female 'human computers' who went unrecognized, despite their significant contributions to the U.S. space program.

Above: Retired NASA aerospace engineer Dr. Christine Darden, at left, with Virginia Senator Tim Kaine and Texas Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson with the signed Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. (NASA)

"This is big and bipartisan and celebratory and exactly the kinds of things we can do," said Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who helped introduced the cross-party legislation. "It's more than a recognition, it's also a powerful encouragement to try and be that society that nourishes and grows the talents of all."

A reception to celebrate the congressional gold medal winners took place on Monday, Dec. 9, and included keynote remarks from Darden, a retired NASA aerospace engineer, and NASA deputy director Melanie Saunders. The pair, along with "Hidden Figures" author Margot Lee Shetterly, joined elected officials and local high school science, technology, engineering and mathematics students to reflect on the significant contributions of NASA's 'Hidden Figures.'

"Once you take the first step, anything is possible," Shetterly said during the event.

The agency took the first steps with the Apollo program 50 years ago and plans to use what was learned then to explore further with the Artemis program.

Artemis will land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024 and pave the way for the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars. The program hopes to once again unite our country and the world, as NASA researchers, scientists, and engineers create innovative new technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. This will require collaboration with commercial and international partners to achieve the goal of sustainable exploration by 2028.

"I would to see us have the capability of routine flight in space almost like we do airplanes today on Earth," Darden explained when asked what excites her the most about Artemis.

posted 09-06-2024 02:49 PM               

NASA to Take Part in Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson will represent the agency during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony at 3 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept. 18, recognizing the women who contributed to the space race, including the NASA mathematicians who helped land the first astronauts on the Moon under the agency's Apollo Program.

Hosted by House Speaker Mike Johnson, the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony will take place inside Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Nelson is expected to be among the speakers.

The event will stream live on the speaker's YouTube channel.

Medal Information

Introduced by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson on Feb. 27, 2019, H.R.1396 - Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act – was signed into law later that year. Awards will include:

• Congressional Gold Medal to Katherine Johnson, in recognition of her service to the United States as a mathematician

• Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Christine Darden, for her service to the United States as an aeronautical engineer

• Congressional Gold Medals in commemoration of the lives of Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, in recognition of their service to the United States during the space race

• Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of all the women who served as computers, mathematicians, and engineers at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and NASA between the 1930s and the 1970s.

posted 09-18-2024 09:09 AM               

Congressional Gold Medals in commemoration of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Christine Darden, in recognition of their service to the United States during the space race.

posted 09-18-2024 04:15 PM               

NASA's 'Hidden Figures' awarded Congressional Gold Medals

Although they may never completely shed the label, the women who worked for NASA as human computers during the space race are no longer "hidden figures," and they now have a medal to prove it.

On Wednesday (Sept. 18), the women as a group and four individuals who have come to represent their collective experiences were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States. As authorized by Congress, the medals were bestowed to Christine Darden and posthumously to Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan.

A separate Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal was also dedicated to all of the women who worked as mathematicians and engineers at NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) and NASA between the 1930s and 1970s.