[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 201 (Thursday, December 20, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10419-H10420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NASA ENHANCED USE LEASING EXTENSION ACT OF 2018
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (S. 7) to amend title 51, United States Code, to extend the
authority of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to enter
into leases of non-excess property of the Administration.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 7
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 ``NASA Enhanced Use Leasing
Extension Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO LEASES OF NON-
EXCESS PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
SPACE ADMINISTRATION.
Section 20145(g) of title 51, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``December 31, 2018'' and inserting
``December 31, 2019''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on S. 7, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, the bipartisan NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act
of 2018 facilitates commercial access to NASA infrastructure and
facilities.
NASA's enhanced use lease authority gives NASA a crucial tool to
partner with the private sector. For instance, NASA used EUL authority
to lease SpaceX, the historic Apollo and Space Shuttle launch Pad 39A,
promoting the transition from all-government space activities to
commercial ventures.
I would like to thank Senator Roger Wicker for his initiative on this
bill which allows NASA to continue to implement this key authority
while Congress works out a long-term solution to NASA's use of excess
property.
Mr. Speaker, I urge its support, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 7, the NASA Enhanced Use Leasing
Extension Act of 2018. In the interest of time, I will be placing
extended remarks in the Record. Let me just say that this is a
commonsense bill to extend an authority that helps NASA more
efficiently manage its assets.
I rise in support of S.7, the ``NASA Enhanced Use Lease Extension Act
of 2018''.
Enhanced use leasing, or ``EUL'' allows the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration--NASA--to enter into agreements with state and
local governments, academia, private sector entities, and other Federal
government agencies to lease non-excess and underutilized properties at
NASA.
NASA's EUL authority allows the agency to accept lease revenues, in
turn helping NASA to reduce operating costs and make improvements to
facility conditions. The EUL authority helps NASA manage the agency's
real property, including the preservation of underutilized or unique,
historic properties. According to NASA, in Fiscal Year 2017, five NASA
Centers used enhanced use leasing resulting in a total of approximately
$5.4 million in net revenue for the agency.
Congress granted NASA authority to demonstrate enhanced use leasing
at two NASA Field Centers as part the Fiscal Year 2003 Consolidated
Appropriations Resolution. The Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations
Act expanded the authority to agency-wide use. Since then, the
authority has been amended in 2008, and further amended in 2012 to
allow NASA to accept in-kind considerations for leases for the purpose
of developing renewable energy production facilities.
The NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017--Public Law 115-10--
extended NASA's EUL authority until December 31, 2018.
The bill we are considering today provides a clean one-year extension
until December 31, 2019. This extension will allow NASA to continue
existing EUL arrangements and to make progress on developing new
arrangements that are currently underway.
I urge my colleagues to pass S.7, the ``NASA Enhanced Use Lease
Extension Act of 2018.''
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I support passage of
S. 7, the ``NASA Enhanced Use Lease Extension Act of 2018''.
NASA's enhanced use leasing or ``EUL'' authority provides the agency
with tools to help manage its real property. NASA has, for example,
used EUL to preserve underutilized property and make improvements to
facility conditions.
EUL allows the National Aeronautics and Space Administration--NASA--
to enter into agreements with state and local governments, academia,
private sector entities, and other Federal government agencies to lease
non-excess and underutilized properties at NASA.
According to NASA, in Fiscal Year 2017, NASA used enhanced use
leasing resulting in a total of approximately $5.4 million in net
revenue for the agency.
Congress first granted NASA authority to demonstrate enhanced use
leasing in the early 2000s. Since that time, Congress has expanded and
extended the agency's EUL authority.
The NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017--Public Law 115-10--
extended NASA's EUL authority until December 31, 2018.
The bill we are considering today provides a clean one-year extension
until December 31,
[[Page H10420]]
2019. This extension will allow NASA to continue existing EUL
arrangements and to make progress on developing new arrangements that
are currently underway.
I urge my colleagues to vote yes and pass S. 7, the ``NASA Enhanced
Use Lease Extension Act of 2018.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, S. 7.
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. MASSIE. 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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