[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 25832]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 25832]]

                     SPACE AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, this past week Washington, DC was the site 
of a global meeting of space faring nations


at the International Space Symposium. A question raised at this event 
was how the United States' position, as a leader in both government 
sponsored and commercial space industry and exploration, is to be 
maintained in the future in light of emerging competitors and markets 
around the world.
  As a partner in the construction of the International Space Station, 
we have entered into the greatest example of international cooperation 
to date. As NASA director Dan Goldin remarked at the Symposium, the 
Space Station will be a partnership of 16 countries, including the 
U.S., Russia, Japan, the eleven members of the European Union, and 
Brazil. The Expedition 1 crew left for the Space Station at 1:53 AM, 
Tuesday morning, marking October 31, 2000, as the date that humanity 
began its permanent residence in space. American astronaut Bill 
Shepherd and Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev will 
dock with the Space Station on Thursday and begin assembly tasks as new 
elements are added to the orbiting outpost. At completion, the Space 
Station will have a pressurized volume larger than the cabin and cargo 
hold of a 747 airliner. Of the seven modules, six will house 
laboratories. With these, the United States and the nations of the 
world will have the opportunity to use the resources and capabilities 
of the Space Station for scientific and technological research. The 
U.S. laboratory module will have racks, or lab space, for individual 
experiments, as well as sites where independent research payload can be 
attached. Some portion of each will be dedicated to commercial use.
  As expected, a host of physical science experiments will use the 
research racks, payload sites, and Earth-viewing windows. Platforms 
will also be available to test communications systems. Exciting 
experiments are proposed in the life sciences and other fields only now 
recognizing the opportunities that exist in space. Studies in porous-
ceramic bone replacement, gene transformation, and drug design will all 
benefit from extended experiments in the weightless environment of the 
Space Station. The ISS also provides an avenue for other countries to 
have access to space, for experimentation and exploration, thereby 
diminishing the need for their own space launch vehicle and potential 
missile capabilities. We must seize this opportunity for international 
cooperation, fair access to space, and limitless scientific and 
technological advancement.
  As the International Space Station demonstrates, the future poses 
many opportunities for the Unites States in space. However, it likewise 
presents several risks. Also discussed at the International Space 
Symposium were the threats facing the U.S. space industry. One of the 
largest and most worrisome for our long-term health and viability is a 
lack of trained, competent, technically skilled workers. The space 
sector employs between 400,000 and 1,000,000 people. Assuming a 25 year 
career span, this indicates a need for about 150,000 new employees a 
year. This does not take into account the fact that the space industry 
workforce is aging and that the skills used in the space sector, such 
as system level engineering, problem solving and trouble shooting, and 
general technical aptitude, are needed in other industries as well. A 
recent study found that the space sector dropped from being the third 
most popular field for young people to enter in 1990 to seventh in 
1999. The space industry is finding it harder to both recruit and 
retain technically skilled workers.
  I bring this to our colleagues' attention, Mr. President, because the 
federal government is facing a similar threat. Shortages in workers 
with scientific and technical training are being faced by many 
Executive agencies and government labs, as well as the federal space 
community. As difficult as it is for the commercial space industry to 
recruit and retain qualified employees, it is even harder for the 
federal government. Now, and for the foreseeable future, the federal 
government will continue to be the biggest client for the space 
industry with its civil and military space ventures. The federal 
government needs to be able to make decisions regarding selection of 
products, services and systems and have the personnel to use them. It 
must also have the personnel to advise Congress and federal regulatory 
agencies in making intelligent, informed and prudent decisions that 
will encourage competition and success in the commercial space 
industry.
  The Federal and commercial space industry recognize the risk the 
shortage of technically skilled workers present to the nation's long-
term prosperity and viability. As the ranking member of the 
Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation and Federal 
Services, I am interested in how we can avert what most certainly poses 
a threat to our national security and economic well-being. The Federal 
Government is attempting to address those factors in its work 
environment that make it less attractive to technically skilled 
workers, while emphasizing the rewarding and fulfilling public service 
careers available. A way for the Federal Government to increase the 
number of qualified workers could be a partnership with universities to 
encourage the skills and training needed to enter the field. The 
Federal Government should aggressively promote its student loan 
repayment program to attract young college graduates who may turn away 
from Federal service because they are burdened with school debts. This 
program, which has been authorized since 1991, was never implemented 
due to budget cuts, hiring freezes, and downsizing over the past 
decade. Since last March, Senators Durbin, Voinovich, and I have urged 
the Office of Personnel Management to implement the loan repayment 
program because we viewed it as an opportunity to encourage young 
people to join the Federal Government. We were successful in expanding 
the benefit beyond the scope of the initial authorization through an 
amendment to the FY01 DoD Authorization Act, which was signed by the 
President on October 30, 2000.
  The loan repayment program will be a critical component for the 
Federal Government in its effort to recruit and retain highly qualified 
professional, technical, or administrative personnel by allowing 
Federal agencies to repay up to $40,000 of an employee's student loans. 
In addition to attracting recent college graduates, efforts to retain 
experienced federal employees will include loan repayment programs for 
those who pursue additional academic training. We stand at the 
threshold of an age of opportunity and challenge. Our future as a 
global leader in space depends on having the people to meet this 
challenge. I urge my colleagues to join me in fostering an interest in 
public service among our nation's youth so that they will pursue 
careers that further our nation's federal space programs.

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