[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 13, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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         THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NASA AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005

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                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2005

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I am today introducing the ``National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005''. I am 
joined as cosponsors by all of my Democratic colleagues on the Science 
Committee, and I hope that other Members on both sides of the aisle 
will join us once they have had a chance to review the legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, the legislation being introduced today provides an 
authorization for NASA that is credible, practical, and conferenceable. 
It recognizes that NASA has been, is, and should continue to be a 
multimission agency with significant R&D activities in science, 
aeronautics, and human space flight. This bill makes it clear that we 
support the President's goal of making exploration beyond low Earth 
orbit the long-term objective of NASA's human space flight program, and 
that we believe it is important to move forward aggressively to develop 
the Crew Exploration Vehicle and its associated launch vehicle. At the 
same time, it should be clear that we also believe that NASA's 
aeronautics R&D program needs to be revitalized because of its benefits 
to the nation's economy, national security, and quality of life. 
Similarly, NASA's science programs should also be supported because 
they offer the potential of dramatically increasing our knowledge of 
the Earth, the solar system, and the rest of the universe, as well as 
providing the opportunity for applications that can benefit life back 
here on Earth.
  As a result, the legislation recognizes the need to ensure that the 
productive balance that has existed between NASA's major program areas 
is protected. To enforce that balance, the bill provides clear funding 
guidance, a restructuring of NASA's accounts into human-space-flight 
and nonhuman-space-flight accounts, flexible ``firewalls'' between 
NASA's major accounts, and consultation requirements in the event 
changes to the existing balance are contemplated.
  Let me mention a few of the other main features of the bill. It 
provides a three-year authorization and funding guidance for NASA's 
major programs. Funding guidance contained in the bill includes:
   Funding for a Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.
  Additional funding for the James Webb Space Telescope to compensate 
for the impact of the delay in selecting a launch vehicle for the 
mission, as well as for other programmatic challenges, so that this 
high priority mission can remain on track.
   Funding for university research restored to FY 2005 levels.
   Funding for the Earth Science program's Glory mission restored.
   Additional funding for the high priority Earth Science program's 
Global Precipitation Mission (GPM).
   Additional funding to allow ongoing, scientifically productive 
spacecraft missions such as Voyager and Ulysses to continue.
   Funding preserved for fundamental, applied, and commercial life 
sciences and other microgravity research not tied to the human 
exploration program.
   Aeronautics funding restored to the FY 2004 level and the decline 
contained in the President's five-year budget for aeronautics reversed.
   Increased funding for education, including for the National Space 
Grant program.
   Full funding for the Space Shuttle program.
   Full funding for the International Space Station program.
   Human Exploration funding to allow accelerated development of the 
Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and its associated launch vehicle as 
well as for further implementation planning for NASA's human 
exploration program.
   Funding provided for promoting technology transfer initiatives at 
NASA.
  Some of the policy provisions contained in the bill include:
   Ensuring that if the overall NASA budget is cut, the authorized 
levels for each of NASA's major programs would be cut proportionately, 
so no one area would suffer disproportionate cuts.
   Having NASA prioritize its science programs and periodically assess 
their performance.
   Having NASA develop a plan to ensure the continued health of the 
critically important Deep Space Network.
  Directing NASA to schedule a Hubble servicing mission once NASA has 
successfully returned the Shuttle to flight.
  Establishing a national policy for aeronautics R&D and initiating 
technology programs to advance the aeronautical state-of-the-art in key 
areas.
  Directing NASA to honor its international obligations to the 
International Space Station program.
  Strongly encouraging NASA to have a goal of retiring the Space 
Shuttle in 2010 and initiating Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) 
operations, but directing NASA not to retire all of the Shuttles until 
the CEV is operational unless the Administrator determines continued 
Shuttle operations would not be safe.
  Establishing priorities for NASA's Human Exploration program for the 
next three years--namely, development of the CEV and its associated 
launch vehicle, and definition of the overall exploration architecture 
and prioritized implementation plan.
  Directing NASA to work to improve access to its educational programs 
by minorities and economically disadvantaged students.
  Directing NASA to seek an independent review of its educational 
programs and the extent to which they are effective in achieving STEM 
goals.
  Establishing a prize program at NASA to encourage needed technology 
developments.
  Encouraging NASA to aid in the development of the commercial space 
sector.
  Directing NASA to develop a workforce strategy for its civil service 
workforce, seek input from the affected employees, and not undertake 
RIFs until Congress has had a chance to review NASA's plans.
  Directing NASA to develop a financing policy for its test facilities 
that protects key national assets.
  Providing NASA with enhanced use lease authority at its Centers.
  Limiting off-shoring of contracts for the procurement of goods and 
services.
  Having the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) take on additional 
responsibilities, namely monitoring NASA's long-term compliance with 
the Columbia Accident Investigation Board's (CAIB) safety 
recommendations.

  Establishing an independent commission to evaluate the safety of the 
International Space Station.
  Providing a framework for establishing an independent commission in 
the event of a future human space flight accident.
  Mr. Speaker, as you can see, the bill that we are introducing today 
is intended to provide clear Congressional direction to NASA with 
respect to priorities and balance. At the same time, it is intended to 
be flexible enough to accommodate changing circumstances and 
emergencies. Not everyone will agree with every provision in this 
bill--but that's been the case with every significant piece of 
legislation that I can remember being considered by this body. That is 
what the legislative process is all about. At the same time, I believe 
that the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 does provide a credible, 
practical, and conferenceable vehicle for providing needed guidance to 
NASA for the next three years.
  NASA is an agency that has been committed to excellence in all of its 
areas of endeavor. It truly is a workforce of ``rocket scientists''. 
The legislation I am introducing today provides the policy and funding 
guidance that will position NASA for a productive and exciting future, 
and I hope that we can move it towards speedy enactment.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by stating a sentiment 
that I know is shared by all Members. Namely, our thoughts and prayers 
are with all of the members of the NASA family as they prepare to 
return the Space Shuttle to flight, and in particular we wish the crew 
of the Space Shuttle Discovery well on their upcoming journey.

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