[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 25, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2020

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 19, 2019

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3055) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 
     Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2020, and for other purposes:

  Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Chair, I rise to speak on the Amendment 
offered by Mr. Babin.
  Mr. Babin's amendment concerns the organization of space activities 
within the Department of Commerce and its National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
  NOAA is organized at the Department of Commerce to include the Office 
of Space Commerce and the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs 
Office.
  Commercial space is a growing and vibrant sector of our economy. 
Federal government responsibilities on commercial space, including 
those of the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office, 
should be evaluated and considered to determine if any changes are 
needed to support the Office's ability to meet the pace and innovation 
of the commercial remote sensing industry.
  Mr. Babin's amendment would move the Commercial Remote Sensing 
Regulatory Affairs Office and the Office of Space Commerce into a 
single organizational entity within the Department of Commerce.
  Is this a good idea? What would be the implications?
  I don't know, but I do know that these are questions that need 
answers. And I, as Chair of the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology plan to address them as the Committee and its Subcommittee 
on Space and Aeronautics turn to commercial space activities and 
issues.
  These matters should be considered within the Committee of 
jurisdiction, not within a multi-agency spending bill where they cannot 
be debated or reviewed in the light of day.
  Short-circuiting regular legislative order denies opportunities for 
Members of the Committee of Jurisdiction to legislate on policy issues 
they came to Congress to address. I trust that this amendment will be 
removed before this appropriations bill heads to the President.

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