[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1150 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1150

Designating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as 
                a national security interest and asset.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 2010

 Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas (for herself, Mr. Culberson, Mr. Al Green of 
 Texas, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Kosmas, Mr. Gene Green 
 of Texas, Mr. Hinojosa, Mr. Ortiz, Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Reyes, Mr. 
   Rodriguez, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Cuellar, Ms. Watson, Mr. Carter, Mr. 
 Miller of Florida, and Mr. Olson) submitted the following resolution; 
     which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as 
                a national security interest and asset.

Whereas the United States has invested in human flight program since May 5, 
        1961, a program that has been a source for the United States leadership 
        role in space exploration and advancement in scientific research; and is 
        a national security interest and asset for the Nation.
Whereas the Constellation program is a human space flight program that includes: 
        the Ares I launch vehicle, capable of launching to low-Earth orbit; the 
        Ares V heavy-lift launch vehicle, to send astronauts and equipment to 
        the Moon; the Orion capsule, intended to carry astronauts to low-Earth 
        orbit and beyond; and the Altair lunar lander and lunar surface systems 
        astronauts will need to explore the lunar surface.
Whereas the President's Fiscal Year 2010 Budget provided $18,700,000,000 for the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); the Budget funds a 
        program of space-based research to advance our understanding of climate 
        change and its effects, as well as human and robotic space exploration; 
        and the budget supports the use of the Space Shuttle to complete 
        assembly of the International Space Station.
Whereas the 2010 NASA budget funded a program of space-based research that 
        supports the Administration's commitment to deploy a global climate 
        change research and monitoring system.
Whereas 2010 NASA budget was to fund the safe flight of the Space Shuttle 
        through the vehicle's retirement at the end of 2010. An additional 
        flight will be conducted if it can be completed safely before the end of 
        2010.
Whereas the President's Fiscal Year 2011 Budget proposes to eliminate the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Space Shuttle and 
        Constellation program and allocate $6,000,000,000 over 5 years for the 
        purpose of developing commercial space flight.
Whereas the Congress recognizes the policy outlined in section 501(a) of the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Authorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
        16761(a)), that the United States shall maintain an uninterrupted 
        capability for human space flight and operations in low-earth orbit, and 
        beyond, as an essential element of national security and the ability to 
        ensure continued United States participation and leadership in the 
        exploration of space.
Whereas eliminating the Constellation upon retirement of the Space Shuttle will 
        create a national security risk to the United States and will diminish 
        the Nation's efforts to advance scientific research in space.
Whereas the United States will for the first time since its space program began, 
        be without a human space flight program.
Whereas transferring funds from the Constellation program to the development of 
        commercial space programs to carry human and crew into space is taking a 
        chance on an unknown quantity and is an unnecessary and unreasonable 
        risk this country must not take.
Whereas the retirement of the Space Shuttle this year will leave the United 
        States vulnerable and depending on Russia to put United States 
        astronauts in orbit without the Constellation program; in May of last 
        year when it became clear the United States had no one else to turn to, 
        Russia raised its prices from $48,000,000 to $51,000,000 per launch for 
        each astronaut.
Whereas the Constellation program is not just about going to the moon, as the 
        United States has a commitment to the International Space Station (ISS), 
        and with the Space Shuttle being retired this September, the 
        Constellation is the only system under development that will give NASA 
        the future capability to launch and retrieve crews to and from the ISS.
Whereas decreasing the use of the International Space Station would impact the 
        ability to sustain its systems and physical infrastructure.
Whereas the Constellation program should be funded to continue use of the 
        International Space Station to support the agency and other Federal, 
        commercial, and academic research and technology testing needs.
Whereas partnerships between universities and NASA centers should be established 
        to provide research opportunities for conduct of research in the United 
        States International Space Station National Laboratories for the next 
        generation of scientists in order to ensure effective utilization of the 
        International Space Station research capabilities.
Whereas NASA conducts aeronautics research to address aviation safety, air 
        traffic control, noise and, emissions reductions and fuel efficiency.
Whereas NASA's contribution to our knowledge of air and water supports improved 
        decisionmaking for natural resource management and emergency response, 
        thus enabling us to better respond to future homeland security threats.
Whereas knowledge of Earth's water cycle is a critical first step in protecting 
        our water supply; water flows over the Earth's surface in oceans, lakes, 
        and streams, and is particularly vulnerable to attack.
Whereas NASA sensors provide a wealth of information about the water cycle; and 
        contributes to improving our ability to monitor water resources and 
        water quality from space; we must also protect the quality and safety of 
        the air we breathe; airborne contaminants can pose danger to human 
        health; and chemical, nuclear, radiological, and biological attacks are 
        plausible threats against which we can better protect the United States 
        through NASA's research: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) NASA is a national security asset and interest for the 
        United States;
            (2) elimination of the Constellation program will present 
        Homeland Security implications for cyberspace, critical 
        infrastructure, and the intelligence community of the United 
        States;
            (3) elimination of the Constellation program will 
        compromise the effectiveness of the International Space Station 
        as it relates to the strategic importance of space station 
        research, and intelligence;
            (4) continuation of NASA's Constellation program is crucial 
        to improving national security, climate, and research in 
        science and medicine; and
            (5) the United States should maintain its funding of the 
        Constellation program and should begin funding commercial space 
        in 5 years and not sooner.
                                 <all>