[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 406 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 406

   Establishing a Select Committee on Aerospace in the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 15, 2004

 Mrs. Murray submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
               the Committee on Rules and Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Establishing a Select Committee on Aerospace in the United States.

Whereas the aerospace sector of the United States economy generates economic 
        activity equal to 15 percent of the Nation's Gross Domestic Product and 
        supports approximately 11,000,000 American jobs;
Whereas the United States aerospace industry directly employs 574,600 people of 
        the United States, the lowest employment level of United States workers 
        since World War II;
Whereas employment in the United States aerospace industry is down 57 percent, 
        as more than 750,000 jobs have been lost since 1989;
Whereas the United States share of the global aerospace market fell from 72 
        percent in 1985 to less than 52 percent today;
Whereas according to the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace 
        Industry, ``Foreign government subsidies directly affect the 
        competitiveness of our companies. Subsidized prime manufacturers as well 
        as suppliers are able to undercut prices offered by their U.S. 
        competitors, and are better able to weather market downturns. Subsidized 
        companies are able to secure cheaper commercial financing since their 
        governments share the risk associated with bringing new products to 
        market. Subsidized production skews the market itself by flooding it 
        with products that are not commercially viable. Governments providing 
        the subsidies also apply political pressure on customers in an effort to 
        facilitate a positive return on the governments' investments. In many 
        cases, these government subsidies stifle competition and often slow the 
        introduction of new technology into the market. European funding has had 
        the most dramatic impact on U.S. competitiveness because European 
        products directly compete with United States products in most sectors . 
        . . if we maintain the status quo, U.S. industry will be left to compete 
        against companies that don't play by the same rules.'';
Whereas the aerospace industry is globally competitive with established nations 
        like the United States and the members of the European Union and faces 
        growing competition from numerous nations, including China, Russia, 
        Brazil, Canada, Japan, and others; and
Whereas numerous public policy issues important to the future of aerospace are 
        now before Congress, including the United States air traffic control 
        system, export controls, the aerospace workforce, homeland security, 
        national security, foreign competition, research and development, 
        mathematics and science education, corporate tax and export promotion, 
        and others: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a temporary Select 
Committee on Aerospace in the United States (hereinafter referred to as 
the ``Committee'').
    (b) Composition of the Committee.--
            (1) Voting members.--The Committee shall be composed of 11 
        Senators, 6 to be appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate and 5 to be appointed by the minority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (2) Ex officio members.--Ex officio members of the 
        Committee shall include--
                    (A) the majority leader of the Senate;
                    (B) the minority leader of the Senate; and
                    (C) the chairman and ranking member of each of the 
                following committees:
                            (i) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                        Transportation of the Senate.
                            (ii) The Committee on Finance of the 
                        Senate.
                            (iii) The Committee on Armed Services of 
                        the Senate.
                            (iv) The Committee on Appropriations of the 
                        Senate.
            (3) Limitations on ex officio members.--An ex officio 
        member--
                    (A) shall not be counted for the purpose of 
                ascertaining the presence of a quorum of the Committee; 
                and
                    (B) shall be a nonvoting member of the Committee.
    (c) Organization of Committee.--
            (1) Chairperson.--The majority leader of the Senate shall 
        select the chairperson of the Committee from the members of the 
        Committee.
            (2) Ranking member.--The minority leader of the Senate 
        shall designate a ranking member from the members of the 
        Committee.
            (3) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Committee shall not affect 
        the power of the remaining members to execute the functions of 
        the Committee, and shall be filled in the same manner as the 
        original appointment.
    (d) Commencement of Study.--The Committee shall commence its study 
of the aerospace industry under section 2 on January 3, 2005, or upon 
the date of appointment of the members of the Committee under 
subsection (b)(1).
    (e) Termination.--The Committee shall cease to exist on December 
31, 2006.

SEC. 2. OPERATION OF THE COMMITTEE.

    (a) In General.--The Committee shall--
            (1) make a full and complete study of the United States 
        aerospace industry, including its present and future 
        competitiveness and its importance to the United States and to 
        the global economy; and
            (2) recommend legislative, administrative, and regulatory 
        remedies, as approved by a majority of the committee members.
    (b) Focus of Study.--The study shall include an examination of--
            (1) the role of the Federal Government in the aerospace 
        industry;
            (2) the importance of the aerospace industry to the United 
        States economy;
            (3) global competition and its impact on the aerospace 
        industry of the United States;
            (4) technological challenges before the aerospace industry 
        in commercial aircraft and aviation, national security, and 
        space exploration; and
            (5) workforce development issues in the aerospace industry.

SEC. 3. AUTHORITY AND EMPLOYMENT AND COMPENSATION OF STAFF.

    (a) Authority of Committee.--The Committee is authorized to--
            (1) sit and act, at any time, during the sessions, 
        recesses, and adjourned periods of Congress;
            (2) require as the Committee considers necessary, by 
        subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of witnesses and the 
        production of books, papers, and documents;
            (3) administer oaths and take testimony; and
            (4) procure necessary printing and binding.
    (b) Appointment and Compensation of Staff.--The Committee--
            (1) shall utilize existing staff to the extent possible;
            (2) may appoint and fix the compensation of such staff as 
        it considers necessary;
            (3) may utilize such voluntary and uncompensated services 
        as it considers necessary; and
            (4) may utilize the services, information, facilities, and 
        personnel of the General Accounting Office, the Congressional 
        Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service of the 
        Library of Congress, and other agencies of the legislative 
        branch.
    (c) Additional Staff.--Upon the request of the chairman or ranking 
member of the Committee, the head of any Federal agency, or of any 
office in the legislative branch, is authorized to detail, without 
reimbursement, any of the personnel of such agency or office to the 
Committee to assist in carrying out its duties.
    (d) Travel Expenses.--The members and staff of the Committee shall 
be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses 
incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the 
Committee, other than expenses in connection with meetings of the 
Committee held in the District of Columbia.

SEC. 4. COMMITTEE REPORT.

     The Committee--
            (1) may make such interim reports as it considers 
        necessary; and
            (2) prior to ceasing operations in accordance with section 
        1(e), shall submit a final report, to the Senate and to the 
        appropriate Committees of the Senate, which shall contain the 
        results of its study and its recommendations.
                                 <all>