[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2862 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2862

To provide for National Science Foundation and National Aeronautics and 
      Space Administration utilization of the Arecibo Observatory.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 15, 2008

 Mr. Reid (for Mrs. Clinton) introduced the following bill; which was 
 read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
                              and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for National Science Foundation and National Aeronautics and 
      Space Administration utilization of the Arecibo Observatory.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Arecibo Observatory is the world's largest single-
        aperture telescope. It has been recognized as an Electrical 
        Engineering Milestone by the Institute of Electrical and 
        Electronics Engineers and as a Mechanical Engineering Landmark 
        by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Its visitor 
        center draws 120,000 visitors each year.
            (2) The Arecibo Observatory radio astronomy led to the 
        first discovery of planets outside our own solar system, the 
        first discovery of a binary pulsar (resulting in a Nobel 
        Prize), and the first detailed three-dimensional mapping of how 
        galaxies are distributed in the universe.
            (3) The Arecibo Observatory's planetary radar has unique 
        abilities worldwide for research on our solar system, including 
        near-Earth asteroids. Besides their scientific importance, 
        near-Earth asteroids may be both a significant hazard to Earth 
        and a potential source of future resources.
            (4) The Arecibo Observatory is a leading United States 
        laboratory for research on Earth's ionosphere.
            (5) Congress has mandated that the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration detect, track, catalogue, and characterize 
        near-Earth asteroids and comets in order to provide warning and 
        mitigation of the potential hazard of such near-Earth objects 
        to the Earth. By being on the forefront of basic research 
        involving near-Earth objects, space weather, and global climate 
        change, the Arecibo Observatory is an outstanding resource to 
        Congress and to the American People.
            (6) The efforts taken to date by the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation 
        for detecting and characterizing the hazards of Earth orbit-
        crossing asteroids and comets are not sufficient to the threat 
        posed by such objects to cause widespread destruction and loss 
        of life.
            (7) The general welfare and security of the United States 
        require that the unique competence of the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration in science and engineering systems be 
        directed to detecting, tracking, cataloging, and characterizing 
        near-Earth asteroids and comets. The Arecibo Observatory is an 
        invaluable and unique asset in warning and mitigating potential 
        hazards posed by near-Earth objects.

SEC. 2. CONTINUATION OF OPERATION.

    The Director of the National Science Foundation shall--
            (1) ensure that the Arecibo Observatory is fully funded to 
        continue--
                    (A) its research on Earth's ionosphere;
                    (B) its research in radio astronomy; and
                    (C) research on the solar system; and
            (2) coordinate with the Administrator of the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration to ensure that the 
        capabilities of the Arecibo Observatory continue to be 
        available for National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        research in characterizing and mitigating near-Earth objects, 
        and other research as needed.
                                 <all>