US Representative Wants National Park on Moon

Dallas Democratic Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson wants to build a national park ... on the moon.

Johnson's bill seeks to protect artifacts left by NASA astronauts on the moon's surface while executing missions from the Apollo 11 to 17 programs.

The bill would also preserve Neil Armstrong's footprints, nominating the famous first step impressions as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, giving it a status of "threatened."

"In light of other nations and private entities developing the ability to go to the Moon, the United States must be proactive in protecting artifacts left by the seven Apollo lunar landings," Johnson explained in a note, The Dallas Morning News reported.

The bill was filed by Johnson, as well as fellow House Science, Space and Technology committee member, Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., on Monday at the House of Representatives.

According to a Democrat spokesperson, anyone taking artifacts from the moon would be subjected to the same laws that protect national parks on Earth.

While the notion of protecting objects that are literally millions of miles away from our own planet seems odd, Johnson is resolute in her belief that there needs to be legal protection in place for the artifacts left on the moon's surface.

"I don't think that there is anything far-fetched about protecting and preserving such irreplaceable items and such a hallowed place," Johnson said.

The Science Committee spokeswoman also said that Russian Space Agency head Vladimir Popovkin has been calling for the protection of artifacts the program has left on the moon during several manned campaigns.

The House bill has been referred to two committees: the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and Natural Resources Committee.