[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

  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent, the Senate proceed 
to the immediate consideration of calendar No. 605, S. 1881, the NASA 
Technology Investment Act of 1994; that the committee amendment be 
agreed to, the bill as amended be deemed read three times, passed, and 
the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; further, that my 
statements appear in the Record as if read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, on August 11, 1994, S. 1881, the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA] Technology 
Investment Act of 1994, was approved by the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation. As chairman of the Commerce Committee, I 
support S. 1881 and its passage by the Senate.
  This year, our Nation celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Apollo 
11 mission to the Moon. Many technologies needed for that historic 
mission were subsequently ``spun-off'' and used for commercial products 
or processes. Today, with diminishing Federal dollars available to fund 
important national priorities, NASA can no longer afford the luxury of 
developing technologies solely for its own missions. Continued Federal 
investment in aeronautics and space demands closer links with 
industry's technology requirements and greater returns to the U.S. 
economy.
  S. 1881 provides the framework for NASA to work more closely with 
industry to identify and pursue the development of technologies but 
requires no increase in spending. It is a small but important step in 
reassessing our funding priorities in the post-cold war era. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in passing this bill.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, the Senate is taking an important 
step forward today in approving a bill designed to produce more 
dividends for Americans from our investment in the Nation's space 
program. This represents the kind of change we need to make to 
strengthen our economy, generate jobs, and thrive as a society in the 
future. This legislation sends a very clear signal to NASA, and I urge 
its leadership and personnel to rise to the challenge.
  As chairman of the Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space, I 
am pleased to have the Senate consider this bill, S. 1881, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA] Technology Investment Act 
of 1994.
  With Senator Burns, I introduced S. 1881 on March 1, 1994. Working 
with NASA, industry, and our cosponsors, Senators Mikulski, Pryor, 
Inouye, Lott, Jeffords, Robb, Glenn, Feinstein, and Gorton, S. 1881 was 
approved without objection by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation on August 11, 1994. The legislation before the Senate 
today is the reported version of S. 1881.
  A great deal of thought and work was spent to develop this 
legislation, because of our interest in providing clearer direction to 
NASA on the priorities that reflect the public's needs. Certainly, I am 
hopeful that the people and industries of my own State will benefit 
from a space program that uses its tools and mission to serve the 
Nation more effectively.
  The purpose of S. 1881 is to make NASA's existing investment in 
aeronautics and space as useful as possible to important commercial 
sectors in the United States, such as aircraft, communications 
satellites, remote sensing, and launch vehicles. With important 
national initiatives competing for scarce funding, continued Federal 
investment in NASA's aeronautics and space programs require more 
tangible contributions to economic priorities.
  In developing this legislation, we were impressed with NASA's efforts 
to work more closely with industry to advance aeronautics in areas of 
high speed research and advanced subsonic technologies. Working with 
industry in these two areas to identify and develop high risk 
technologies may help U.S. airframe and engine manufacturers in 
existing markets and capture the future high speed civil transport 
market. However, the lion's share of NASA funding--about 90 percent--
goes to its space programs, not aeronautics. S. 1881 would require NASA 
to work with industry to identify and develop high risk space 
technologies. As NASA developed technologies for its own missions, it 
would also advance technologies and equipment useful to industry.

  Recognizing the important role that aeronautics research and 
technology plays in the competitiveness of U.S. industry, S. 1881 also 
requires an assessment of wind tunnel testing capabilities and a 
strategy for joint industry/government funding of new wind tunnel 
facilities. Our national wind tunnel facilities are aging and, with few 
exceptions, cannot be modified to simulate adequately the flight 
conditions that will be required for highly productive aircraft design 
and development.
  Finally S. 1881 as reported includes amendments to the Commercial 
Space Launch Act of 1984 that (1) extend the authority of the 
Department of Transportation to cover commercial re-entry spacecraft 
and (2) incorporate the intent of S. 1145 to prohibit the launch of 
outer space advertisements. S. 1145 was introduced by Senator Jeffords 
and cosponsored by Senators Akaka, Bumpers, Conrad, Dorgan, Glenn, 
Kohl, and Warner.
  S. 1881 calls for better use of existing dollars at NASA, not new 
spending. NASA, the administration, professional associations, and 
aerospace industries support this legislation, and I thank all of them 
for their counsel and input. I also thank Elizabeth Inadomi of the 
Senate Commerce Committee staff, who provided valuable assistance in 
developing this measure.
  I urge my colleagues in the Senate to join me and pass this bill. I 
ask that the NASA Technology Investment Act of 1994, as reported, be 
reprinted in its entirety and accompany my statement for the Record.
  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 United States 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 most 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.
  I yield the floor.
  So the bill (S. 1881) was deemed to have been read three times and 
passed.
  (The text of the bill will be printed in a future edition of the 
Record.)

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