[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 30 (Tuesday, March 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION

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                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 1997

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, on February 27, 1997, I reintroduced 
legislation, H.R. 897, that would require the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration to take advantage of abandoned and underutilized 
buildings and grounds in economically depressed areas of the country 
when selecting new site facilities. I ask all of my colleagues to 
become cosponsors of H.R. 897.
  In this age of reinvestment in our large cities, programs such as 
enterprise zones and HUD grants offer economically depressed 
communities the opportunity to pick themselves up and forge ahead with 
their recovery. However, Federal agencies, such as NASA, should look at 
those same communities when looking to expand their facilities. Much 
like a major sports team, NASA expansion into an economically depressed 
area would boost the area's financial status, self esteem, and morale. 
Often these last two items simply cannot be fixed with a simple 
government-sponsored grant.
  H.R. 897 would also allow older buildings and underused facilities in 
decaying cities the chance to be fully utilized, thereby furthering the 
economic and cosmetic recovery of those cities. And because those 
facilities would already be in place, NASA would not have to spend a 
fortune on constructing all new buildings and support infrastructure.
  Mr. Speaker, NASA's operations should not just be something we see 
pictures of on television. Once again, I urge all House Members to 
cosponsor H.R. 897.

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