[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 212 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8787-S8788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4016. Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Schiff) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 4016, making 
appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2026, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. SCIENCE PROGRAMS OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND 
                   SPACE ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Exploration and Planetary Science Capabilities.--
       (1) Finding.--Congress finds that the technological 
     capabilities being developed in the Mars Sample Return 
     program are not only critical to the success of future 
     science missions but also to human exploration of the Moon 
     and Mars.
       (2) Funding.--Of the amounts made available by this Act for 
     the Science programs of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, $300,000,000 is provided to support radar, 
     spectroscopy, entry, descent, and landing systems, and 
     commercializable precursor technologies that will enable 
     science missions for the next decade, including lunar and 
     Mars missions.
       (3) Coordination.--The Administrator of National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration shall coordinate efforts 
     between the

[[Page S8788]]

     Science Mission Directorate and the Exploration Systems 
     Development Mission Directorate on the advancement of the 
     technologies described in paragraph (2).
       (b) Mars Technology.--
       (1) Funding.--Of the amounts made available by this Act for 
     the Exploration programs of the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration, $350,000,000 is provided for Mars 
     technology to accelerate the development of high-priority 
     technologies, such as radar, spectroscopy, entry, descent, 
     and landing systems for crewed missions first to the Moon and 
     then to Mars.
       (2) Coordination.--The Administrator of National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration shall coordinate efforts 
     among the Science Mission Directorate, the Space Technology 
     Mission Directorate, and the Exploration Systems Development 
     Mission Directorate on the advancement of the technologies 
     described in paragraph (1).
                                 ______