[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S4923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL SPACE SYMPOSIUM

 Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I had the pleasure of participating 
in the 14th National Space Symposium hosted last month by the United 
States Space Foundation. The annual symposium was designed to display 
and discuss current trends in the space community, and the 1998 theme 
reflected what has become very significant to the development of the 
United States space industry: ``The Global Relevance for Space: Civil, 
Commercial and Military''. As the Foundation's President, Bill Knudsen, 
said in his remarks, ``Space is increasingly global in all aspects. The 
strong interrelationship between government, private industry and 
military space activities has created a completely new environment.''
  The location of this symposium highlights the significant position of 
my state of Colorado in the global space business. All aspects of space 
thrive in Colorado; we have an extensive and growing industry and a 
significant military presence.
  The symposium addressed several issues and opportunities with a broad 
international flavor, and with a focus on commercial and market 
concerns.
  Demonstrating the interrelated nature of space activity, each of the 
symposium's eleven professional panels had at least one representative 
from the civil sector, one representing the commercial perspective and 
one from the national security perspective. This integrated approach 
produced a spirited dialog on critical space issues.
  The list of participants was impressive, a few especially captured my 
attention. NASA Administrator Dan Goldin detailed accomplishments of 
the agency, announced cooperative efforts with the Air Force and 
substantiated the need for the International Space Station, rejecting 
suggestions that the Russians should be dropped from the program. Mr. 
Goldin also spoke to what I believe may be NASA's greatest 
accomplishment: increasing their productivity while reducing their 
budget. The NASA budget has decreased 30% since 1993, and in that same 
time 10 new programs and numerous partnerships have been created. In 
the coming era of public and private partnership in space exploration 
and development, NASA has established a high standard of efficiency and 
achievement.
  The capstone panel, led by Mr. Golden, also featured General Howell 
Estes, Commander in Chief of NORAD and US Space Command. General Estes 
emphasized the marketplace as the driving force, while recognizing the 
necessity of a proper partnership between the private sector and 
government.
  Robert Mallett, the Deputy Secretary of Commerce, stressed the need 
to recognize commercial space as the driver of a higher growth job 
machine in industry that will deliver prosperity and security for 
coming generations of Americans.
  Our colleague in the House, Representative Curt Weldon, addressed 
national security, space and arms control concerns as he spoke 
passionately from his experience of working with the Russians.
  I spoke about the important mission of our military to secure the use 
of space, and my perspective as a member of the Senate Intelligence 
Committee on space implications for national security. I believe that 
the private and public sector must work together to ensure that the 
United States is the first and best in space. I support legislation in 
Congress to encourage commercialization of space, and in particular 
have been supportive of the efforts of our Colorado companies that plan 
to operate remote-sensing satellites that will offer unique high-
resolution satellite photos.
  In addition to the panels, more than sixty exhibitors displayed the 
latest in space technology at this international conference. The 
Foundation honored exceptional achievement in space activities, 
recognizing NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for their public outreach 
efforts associated with last summer's remarkable Pathfinder Mission, 
and the career of space leadership of General Thomas S. Moorman, Jr. 
USAF (ret.), the former vice chief of staff of the Air Force.
  General Estes and others from the Space Command laid out the future 
of military space with the unveiling at the symposium of their Long 
Range Plan. Two technologies were inducted into the Space Technology 
Hall of Fame, the Global Positioning System and Temper Foam, a NASA 
Ames Research Center technology used in medical and recreational 
applications. The Hall of Fame marketed its 10th anniversary of 
honoring technologies originally developed for the space program and 
later adapted to benefit others here on Earth.
  The symposium's sponsor, the United States Foundation, is a national 
non-profit organization with headquarters in Colorado Springs. The 
Foundation's mission it to aggressively advance civil, commercial and 
national security space endeavors for a brighter future and to provide 
and support educational excellence through the excitement of space. The 
Foundation should be commended for this symposium and for their other 
important projects, such as the Mission HOME program, a public 
awareness campaign for the space community, and Space Discovery 
graduate courses and teacher education opportunities.
  This annual event has grown considerably in the past few years, and I 
expect it to continue growing in scope and significance. I am already 
looking forward to next April and the 15th Annual National Space 
Symposium.

                          ____________________