[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT ACT 
                                OF 1994

 Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I am pleased to express my support 
for passage of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Technology Investment Act of 1994. This bill is designed to encourage 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA] to strengthen 
the link between their programs and economic growth and jobs for 
Americans, and in my case, Montanans.
  The bill provides a framework for NASA to move in the direction of a 
more business-like approach with the aerospace industry. The bill does 
two basic things: Gives NASA a direction for its role in technology 
investment and requires the United States to prepare a strategy for 
developing world class aeronautics testing facilities.
  It is important to support our aerospace industry because of its key 
role in offsetting deficits in U.S. trade with other countries. One of 
the areas the industry lacks is adequate facilities to test new 
concepts.
  My work with a company in Butte, MT, revealed to me that the United 
States does not have adequate wind tunnels and must rely on foreign 
wind tunnels for our Nation's future aeronautics testing. Our aerospace 
companies' reliance on these foreign wind tunnels could result in 
advances to other countries' aircraft competing directly with U.S. 
commercial aircraft.
  The bill establishes a competitive, cost-sharing technology program 
for eligible companies. It is designed to work with existing Federal 
policy to encourage industry-led groups to develop new technologies on 
a more efficient basis.
  I commend my good friend Senator Rockefeller, chairman of the 
Science, Technology, and Space Subcommittee of the Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation Committee, for his leadership on this 
legislation.

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