[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 99 (Tuesday, June 21, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4424-S4425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4841. Mr. PORTMAN (for himself and Mr. Brown) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 4685 proposed by Mr. 
Shelby (for himself and Ms. Mikulski) to the bill H.R. 2578, making 
appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, 
and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and 
for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:


[[Page S4425]]


  

       On page 80, between lines 17 and 18, insert the following:

                           General Provisions

       Sec. 301. (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of 
     Congress that conducting deep space exploration requires 
     radioisotope power systems, such as thermoelectric and 
     Stirling generators and converters.
       (b) Analysis of Requirements and Risks.--The Director of 
     the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the 
     Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, in consultation with the heads of other 
     Federal agencies, shall conduct an analysis of--
       (1) the requirements of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration for radioisotope power system material that is 
     needed to carry out planned, high priority robotic missions 
     in the solar system and other surface exploration activities 
     beyond low-Earth orbit; and
       (2) the risks to missions of the Administration in meeting 
     those requirements, or any additional requirements, due to a 
     lack of adequate radioisotope power system material.
                                 ______