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Democrat Previously on Science and Space Committee Mocked Over Moon Comment
Published Apr 09, 2024 at 2:46 PM EDT
Updated Apr 09, 2024 at 6:30 PM EDT

00:30
NASA To Launch 3 Sounding Rockets During Total Solar Eclipse into Moon’s
Shadow
By Matthew Impelli

A congresswoman who previously sat on the House's Science, Space and
Technology Committee was mocked this week after a comment she made about
the moon.

On Monday, Sheila Jackson Lee delivered a speech for supporters ahead of
the total solar eclipse, in which she spoke about the sun and the moon.

"Sometimes you've heard the word full moon, and sometimes you need to
take the opportunity just to come out and see a full moon...that
complete rounded circle, which is made up mostly of gases," the Texas
Democrat said. "The sun is a mighty powerful heat, and it's almost
impossible to go near the sun."

She added that "the moon is more manageable" and said NASA will be going
back there in a few years.

Moon
The moon is seen over Cannes, France, on May 13, 2019. A Texas
congresswoman's remarks about the sun and moon on Monday before the
total solar eclipse drew reactions on social media.
LAURENT EMMANUEL/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Some users on social media mocked Jackson Lee's comments on Tuesday and
cited her previous membership on the science and space panel.

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"Sheila Jackson Lee (D) sat on the House Science Committee AND the House
Space Committee...and she thinks the moon is made of gas," John Hasson
of TownHall.com wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

In the 110th Congress (2007-2008), Jackson Lee left the Science, Space
and Technology Committee for a seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Republican National Committee's RNC Research account on X shared a
video of Jackson Lee's comments and wrote, "Democrat Rep. Sheila Jackson
Lee: It's "almost impossible to go near the sun," but the "moon is more
manageable" because it's "made up mostly of gases" (it isn't)."

The moon is "rocky," according to Space.com, and is made up of oxygen,
silicon, magnesium, iron, calcium, aluminum, chromium, titanium and
manganese.

Newsweek reached out to Jackson Lee's press office via email for comment.

"Sheila Jackson Lee thinks that the moon is made of 'gasses.' She has
been in congress for 30 years," X user Still Boneless wrote.

X user @amuse wrote, "Our Best & Brightest: Rep Sheila Jackson Lee has
become a multimillionaire serving her constituents in Congress. Listen
to her explain the composition of the moon."

The Citizen Free Press account on X wrote, "Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee
says the moon is made out of 'gases' and the sun is 'almost' too hot for
us to go near. These are the 'science is real' folks."

READ MORE
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Solar eclipse's shadow caught passing over the US in NASA—NOAA video
See Earth from space as the moon casts eclipse shadow over America
X user Kyle Becker, a former Fox News producer wrote,
"Congresswoman/Astrophysicist Sheila Jackson Lee tells Americans the
moon is made out of 'gases' and the sun is 'almost' too hot for us to go
near. Here is your elected leadership, America. Don't wonder why the
country is going to hell. This is why."

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