[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 206 (Monday, December 18, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H10161-H10162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL SPACE COOPERATION ACT
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1159) to provide for continuing cooperation between the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Israel Space Agency, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1159
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States and Israel
Space Cooperation Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) authorized in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) supports and coordinates United States
Government research in aeronautics, human exploration and
operations, science, and space technology;
(2) established in 1983, the Israel Space Agency (ISA)
supports the growth of Israel's space industry by supporting
academic research, technological innovation, and educational
activities;
(3) the mutual interest of the United States and Israel in
space exploration affords both nations an opportunity to
leverage their unique abilities to advance scientific
discovery;
(4) in 1996, NASA and the ISA entered into their first
agreement outlining areas of mutual cooperation, which
remained in force until 2005;
(5) since 1996, NASA and the ISA have successfully
cooperated on many space programs supporting the Global
Positioning System and research related to the sun, earth
science, and the environment;
(6) the bond between NASA and the ISA was permanently
forged on February 1, 2003, with the loss of the crew of STS-
107 including Israeli Astronaut Ilan Ramon;
(7) the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of
2014 (Public Law 113-296) designated Israel as a Major
Strategic Partner of the United States; and
(8) on October 13, 2015, the United States and Israel
signed the Framework Agreement between the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States of
America and the Israel Space Agency for Cooperation in
Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer
Space for Peaceful Purposes.
SEC. 3. CONTINUING COOPERATION.
The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration shall continue to work with the Israel Space
Agency to identify and cooperatively pursue peaceful space
exploration and science initiatives in areas of mutual
interest, taking all appropriate measures to protect
sensitive information, intellectual property, trade secrets,
and economic interests of the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Dunn) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include
extraneous material on H.R. 1159, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the United States and Israel Space Cooperation Act
deserves
[[Page H10162]]
our support. The peaceful use of outer space and cooperation with our
friends and allies lie at the very heart of NASA's mission.
The United States has been a partner and a friend to the Israeli
space program since its creation three decades ago. Our voyages have
brought us closer together as nations, as partners, and as friends. Our
shared quests for peace, knowledge, and friendship echo our experiences
together on Earth.
But sadness and sorrow have tested that relationship. Israel's first
astronaut, Ilan Ramon, flew to space for the first time on the ill-
fated Space Shuttle Columbia. Even though that accident tragically
ended the life of Ilan and six U.S. crew members, the U.S. and Israel
turned that tragedy into hope, working together even more closely.
In 2015, the U.S. and Israel again renewed their partnership with
another 10-year commitment to peaceful cooperation in space. That
mutual commitment to the peaceful exploration of outer space has grown
even stronger with the passage of this act under consideration today.
Peaceful space exploration offers all humanity a common, noble goal,
extending our collective reach further into the heavens. Reaching
farther and broadening our understanding of the universe is one of the
most important and honorable challenges that we can face together. I
believe that working together with our allies and partners on the
peaceful exploration of space is an essential part of what makes NASA a
vital national asset. This bill strengthens NASA's ability to do this
important work.
I am also pleased that the bill includes a recognition that sensitive
and proprietary information should be protected.
{time} 1800
Mr. Speaker, I invite all of my colleagues to join me in support of
the United States and Israel Space Cooperation Act.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1159, the United States and
Israel Space Cooperation Act. The cooperation between the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, and the Israel Space Agency
is just one example of peaceful international cooperation that has been
a hallmark of NASA's approach since its inception in 1958.
In fact, when Congress passed NASA's founding legislation, the Space
Act of 1958, one of the primary objectives established for the agency
was: ``7, Cooperation by the United States with other nations and
groups of nations in work done pursuant to this act and in the peaceful
application of the results thereof.''
NASA has followed this objective over the years in a variety of ways.
Since its establishment in 1958, NASA has entered into over 5,000
original agreements with international entities, and currently NASA has
over 800 active cooperative agreements across a range of disciplines
with over 120 countries and international organizations.
These international partnerships have led to a range of benefits in
scientific advancement, access to scientific data, partnering in
exploration, and sharing the costs and risks of space missions.
NASA has had a long and fruitful relationship with the country of
Israel, and that cooperative relationship continues to this day.
Current activities with Israel include the involvement of almost 200
Israeli schools in the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the
Environment, GLOBE, educational project; collaboration on atmospheric
and climate research; and numerical cloud modeling, among other
activities.
I think it is also fitting to remember that the crew of the ill-fated
Space Shuttle Columbia mission, STS-107, included an Israeli astronaut,
Ilan Ramon, who, along with the entire STS-107 crew, tragically
perished with the loss of the space shuttle orbiter on February 1,
2003.
Israel has shared in the great achievements of NASA as well as great
losses that have paved the way for future space explorers. Their
sacrifice will be held in our hearts as we work to further space
exploration for the benefit of mankind.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the sponsor of this legislation, Mr.
Kilmer, for introducing the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as
he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer).
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, but before I
do, I want to just briefly acknowledge the members of my community who
were affected by a tragic Amtrak derailment in Pierce County,
Washington, today. The families of those we lost and all the folks
affected by this are in my prayers tonight.
Mr. Speaker, on May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy came before
this body and gave an urgent special address. He laid out the costs of
supporting the space program and of going to the Moon, and he said:
``We choose to go into space because whatever mankind must undertake,
free men must fully share.''
Today, Mr. Speaker, that journey continues as we take a vote to
formalize sharing a space partnership between our Nation and a close
ally and friend, the nation of Israel.
This partnership began in 1985 when NASA and the Israel Space Agency
began cooperating on a limited basis. A decade later, our Nation signed
an agreement to allow Israeli astronauts to begin training with their
American counterparts.
In 2003, Israeli Air Force Colonel Ilan Ramon became the first
Israeli astronaut. He traveled to space aboard the Space Shuttle
Columbia. It was a 16-day mission, and the crew of six Americans and
one Israeli conducted 80 experiments that helped us understand our
place in the universe just a little bit better.
Tragically, the celebration of this partnership turned to shared
mourning as Columbia was lost on reentry, but the tragedy did not stop
our shared journey into space. To this day, we continue to cooperate,
including on projects everyone benefits from, including the Global
Positioning System, and research that helps us better understand the
Sun, and even research related to our environment here on Earth.
In 2015, NASA and the Israel Space Agency signed a civil space
framework agreement to formalize and expand cooperation in civil space
activities.
Mr. Speaker, today's vote continues a deep and lasting partnership
among free societies. I have been proud to work with a number of my
colleagues and NASA and everyday Americans who know that all mankind
benefits when we explore our universe.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman for his leadership on
these issues and the ranking member, who has been such a champion in
support of smart policies in the arena of science, space, and
technology. I also would like to thank the majority and minority staff
from the committee for the work that they do.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further
requests for time. I urge passage, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Dunn) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1159, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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