[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 109 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 109

 Expressing support for the CubeSat Launch Initiative and recognizing 
                     the development of WeissSat-1.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 27, 2018

 Mr. Mast (for himself, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Dunn, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, 
 Mr. DeSantis, Mr. Crist, Mr. Posey, Mr. Webster of Florida, Mr. Ross, 
    Mr. Soto, and Mr. Bilirakis) submitted the following concurrent 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                               Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the CubeSat Launch Initiative and recognizing 
                     the development of WeissSat-1.

Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) established the 
        CubeSat Launch Initiative in 2008 to provide access to space for small 
        satellites (``CubeSats'') developed by the NASA Centers and programs, 
        educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations;
Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative gives CubeSat developers access to a low-
        cost pathway to conduct research in the areas of science, exploration, 
        technology development, education, and operations;
Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative advances NASA's strategic goals and 
        objectives;
Whereas CubeSat research is essential for military, educational, technological, 
        and medical advancements;
Whereas increased citizen access to space benefits the United States, both 
        societally and economically;
Whereas students, educators, researchers, and companies gain knowledge and 
        experience from conducting CubeSat missions;
Whereas the CubeSat Development Team at The Weiss School, a prekindergarten 
        through 8th grade school in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, designed the 
        ``WeissSat-1'' that was selected by NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative in 
        2017 to be launched as an auxiliary payload in 2019;
Whereas The Weiss School's debate team discovered limiting factors to broader 
        participation and societal benefit of the CubeSat Launch Initiative and 
        brought that research to the attention of Congress;
Whereas, currently, the CubeSat Launch Initiative in fiscal year 2017 received 
        $4.8 million in contributions from the Human Exploration and Operations 
        Mission Directorate, Science Mission Directorate, Space Technology 
        Mission Directorate, and the Office of Education;
Whereas NASA's fiscal year 2018 budget request proposed eliminating the Office 
        of Education (OE) and ``its portfolio of OE-funded activities programs 
        at the nine NASA centers and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory'';
Whereas the House of Representatives passed an appropriations Act funding the 
        Office of Education at $90 million and, House Report 115-231, reads 
        ``The Committee understands that the Office of Education is undergoing a 
        series of internal reviews and assessments; NASA shall brief the 
        Committee when these assessments are concluded'';
Whereas the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an appropriations Act funding 
        the Office of Education at $100 million and, Senate Report 115-139, 
        reads ``The Committee does not agree with the proposed cancellation of 
        the activities within Education and has provided funding for the 
        programs for the upcoming fiscal year. However, if NASA determines that 
        the programs would be better managed, executed, and evaluated in other 
        places within NASA, the Committee is not averse to considering funding 
        these activities either within a revised Education directorate or other 
        alternative locations'';
Whereas Congress recognizes that NASA is reorganizing the Office of Education, 
        and it is a critical moment for American educators, students, and STEM 
        innovators, through their elected Representatives and Senators, to 
        identify programs under the Office of Education that must be preserved 
        and expanded;
Whereas the ultimate validation of this program is when CubeSats are launched 
        and operating in space;
Whereas the limiting factor of getting CubeSats into space is lack of program 
        awareness;
Whereas more awareness leads to the utilization of a low-cost pathway to conduct 
        scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space;
Whereas NASA's Educational Resource Centers have promoted science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics (STEM) engagement through public outreach;
Whereas the Astronaut Memorial Foundation supports NASA's engagement and 
        outreach through the Educational Resource Center and contributions to 
        the Foundation allow for greater awareness of CubeSats to academia and 
        industry;
Whereas many students dream of space exploration and have interest in STEM 
        careers; and
Whereas without access to and awareness of available programs such as the 
        CubeSat Launch Initiative, those dreams may be unrealized: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This concurrent resolution may be cited as the ``WeissSat-1 
Resolution''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's 
        Office of Education is undergoing internal reviews and 
        assessments to determine the appropriate structure of the 
        office moving forward, the CubeSat Launch Initiative must 
        continue to thrive and expand as a priority of Congress and an 
        enabler of American innovation; and
            (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        should prioritize awareness of the CubeSat Launch Initiative in 
        annual budget proposals.
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