[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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