[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 21]
[House]
[Pages 29341-29348]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 1281, NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE 
                ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005

  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the conference report on the Senate bill (S. 1281) to authorize 
appropriations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
for science, aeronautics, exploration, exploration capabilities, and 
the Inspector General, and for other purposes, for fiscal years 2006, 
2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House of 
December 16, 2005, at page 29195.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Boehlert) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the conference report on S. 
1281.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this important conference report, the 
first NASA authorization in 5 years. We take up this conference report 
at a critical time for the Nation's space policy as NASA is laying out 
the policies and seeking the funding to set its course for the next 
decade and a half.
  This bill will give the agency clear guidance while giving Congress 
important new tools for oversight at this pivotal time.

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                              {time}  1745

  Most important, I believe this bill in its very first section makes 
clear that NASA is to remain a multi-mission agency with robust 
programs in science and aeronautics, even as it moves ahead with the 
President's vision for space exploration, and the bill also makes clear 
unequivocal endorsement of that vision.
  The bill also ensures that Congress will have the information it 
needs to guide and monitor NASA. It requires a multiyear plan for 
aeronautics and science so that all NASA programs have a clear and 
well-articulated path, and it requires plans for facilities and 
workforce so we can see what assets NASA will need to achieve its 
goals.
  The bill prevents any layoffs from occurring before March 16, 2007. 
The bill requires updated information on the cost of the crew 
exploration vehicle before NASA awards a development contract, and it 
requires that NASA provide a range of cost estimates for the CEV, along 
with the potential impact of each of those estimates on other programs.
  The bill applies a version of the Nunn-McCurdy rules to NASA. These 
rules will not only require NASA to notify Congress early on of any 
significant cost overruns but will require congressional action if a 
program breaches a specific gap. This may turn out to be one of the 
most important provisions of the bill.
  The bill also gives NASA the authority it has been seeking to offer 
larger prizes to encourage a broad range of private sector scientists 
and engineers to help NASA meet specific technological goals, and the 
bill establishes a new account structure that will make it easier for 
Congress to track NASA spending and to ensure that money is spent for 
the programs intended.
  Finally, the authorization levels in the bill make clear that NASA 
cannot possibly accomplish everything that is now on its plate with the 
funding it is currently projected to receive. I should add that, for 
me, the authorization levels do not mean that NASA necessarily should 
receive the authorized amount for fiscal 2007. The appropriated level 
needs to take account of tradeoffs and what is available to other 
agencies, particularly to other science programs, but the authorization 
levels do clearly mean that NASA will need to either get more money or 
to forego or delay activities.
  I need to say, right now, even though no one will want to hear it 
during this debate, that I do not think we should accelerate the crew 
exploration vehicle development unless key Federal science programs are 
adequately funded. Launching the CEV in 2014 rather than 2012 will not 
damage the country, but allowing the erosion of our scientific 
enterprise will cause real and significant damage, but that is a battle 
for next year.
  Right now, we should all come together to endorse this conference 
report, which will give NASA needed authority and guidance and will 
give Congress tools and a context for future debates.
  This bill represents a true compromise. For example, I am not fond of 
several of the provisions relating to the international space station, 
but they were reasonable elements of a negotiated package that 
represents the broad range of views of NASA in this Congress. We were 
able to pull together such a package because everyone was willing to be 
reasonable. That is a commodity, reasonableness, that oftentimes is 
lacking in this body.
  I want to especially thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Calvert) who sponsored this bill and who heads our Space Subcommittee, 
for his unlikely combination of persistence and cooperation. I also 
want to thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) and the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) who were true partners in their 
efforts, and I want to thank all the conferees in both bodies for their 
openness and hard work. It was not easy but here we are.
  This is a thoughtful, reasonable, bipartisan compromise, and I urge 
its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I have a variety of speakers here who would like to 
speak on this bill, and so I am going to be very brief.
  I first want to concur with Chairman Boehlert, who I think did a very 
good job in laying out the content of the bill and the spirit in which 
it was put together. I want to rise in strong support of the conference 
report for the NASA Authorization Act of 2005. This bill is a result of 
constructive bipartisan and bicameral negotiations regarding the future 
direction of NASA. The issues have been complex, but the conferees have 
approached them with an open mind and a willingness to compromise.
  I think it is important for the authorizing committee with 
jurisdiction over NASA programs to provide appropriate oversight and 
guidance to the agency, and I think this bill does that.
  Of course, I am sure that each of us have additional provisions that 
we would have liked to have included as well as some that we would have 
preferred to drop, but nevertheless, I think this bill is a 
constructive compromise that will serve NASA and the Nation well.
  NASA is facing significant challenges in the years ahead, not the 
least of which is budgetary outlays for the agency's programs. I think 
this bill is a constructive step to assist the agency in meeting those 
challenges, but success is going to require Congress's active 
involvement in the months and the years ahead.
  Finally, before I close, I would like to express my thanks to my 
colleagues on the House side and, in particular Chairman Boehlert, 
Chairman Calvert and Subcommittee Ranking Member Udall for all the 
efforts they have made on behalf of this bill. I would also like to 
express my deep appreciation to our friends in the Senate for their 
bipartisan and bicameral spirit of cooperation they have brought to our 
negotiations, and certainly without the good staff work on our Science 
Committee, we would not be here today. It has been a pleasure to work 
with them to craft this conference report. I would also like to say, 
again, thanks to the House and Senate staff, as well as to the NASA 
personnel for their assistance in bringing the conference to a 
successful conclusion.
  In closing, I believe this is a good conference report, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Calvert), the distinguished chairman of the Space 
Subcommittee, a person who has worked very hard on this bill to bring 
it all together.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Boehlert for his leadership and 
guidance, for the great job in making sure that we are here today, and 
I certainly want to thank Ranking Member Gordon and Ranking Member 
Udall for their leadership and support, also. I want to commend the 
Members of the Science Committee on both sides of the aisle for a job 
well done. I also want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) 
for his guidance and assistance and all his staff working together 
diligently for long hours to assure that this NASA authorization bill 
could be accomplished this year. This is the first time since the year 
2000 that NASA has had an authorization bill and we have been able to 
complete it. This bill provides the agency with the rules and tools 
they will need to succeed.
  This is a crucial time for the agency as it is going through a major 
transition. Our bill represents the first time that the President's 
Vision for Space Exploration has been fully endorsed by both Houses of 
Congress. When the President sends to Congress his budget for fiscal 
year 2007, today's backing by the Congress can only help us to increase 
the support for our Nation's civil space program and for the Vision for 
Space Exploration. We also seek equivalent strategic plans for 
aeronautics and science parts of the budget.
  NASA represents only seven-tenths of 1 percent of the Federal budget 
and

[[Page 29343]]

is an investment in our Nation's future. Even in this time of budget 
deficits, the United States cannot abandon NASA's research and 
technology and its exploration programs. It is not in the American 
spirit to shy away from this investment in our global leadership.
  This bill also authorizes for the first time a competitive prize 
program at NASA based on the very successful X-Prize. This program will 
allow NASA to award prizes for those technologies that are useful for 
NASA's mission. This prize program will encourage our best and 
brightest scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to pursue 
technologies that NASA will need to pursue our Nation's dreams of 
exploration.
  I am pleased that we are doing a 2-year bill through 2008, and we in 
the Science Committee look forward to providing oversight and 
authorization appropriate when needed. I want to urge my colleagues to 
vote yes on this truly bipartisan conference report. We owe it to the 
administration, to our national space enterprise and to the American 
people to pass this NASA authorization bill this year.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Udall), my partner and ranking member on the Space 
Subcommittee.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me time.
  I, too, join my colleagues in acknowledging the bipartisan nature of 
this very important conference report. I want to thank Chairman 
Boehlert and Chairman Calvert on that side of that aisle for their 
leadership and for their good work and, as well, my ranking member on 
this side of the aisle, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon).
  There are four key areas that I would just like to highlight in my 
remarks that are a part of this very important piece of legislation.
  Number one, we beef up the aeronautics effort of NASA, and we make 
sure that crucial research and development work continue, and the 
effect it has on our domestic economy, which is very, very crucial.
  Second, the Hubble telescope, we will do all we can under this 
legislation to service the Hubble telescope, and it has truly become 
the people's telescope. It is known not only in the scientific 
community but to lay people on the street. It is a tremendous asset for 
us today, and it will be in the future.
  Third, the legislation includes a piece of legislation I authored 4 
years ago that deals with remote sensing data. That is the data that we 
are generating from the fleet of satellites that look down on the 
earth, and this data can be of great use to our cities, our towns, our 
counties and the private sector. The bill puts in place a grant program 
as well as increased access to that data so that it can be used by the 
American public.
  Finally, there is a provision that further strengthens the space 
grant program that brings into the career paths of science and 
technology mathematics and engineering, those young people who will not 
only teach the students of the future but who will also come up with 
the great inventions and the new technologies and new understanding 
from our great efforts in space and in aeronautics.
  So, Mr. Speaker, this is an excellent bill. I want to commend it to 
our colleagues, and I rise in support of this important piece of 
legislation and would ask every Member to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for this conference 
report.
  This report reflects the results of productive, bipartisan 
negotiations that began between House Republicans and Democrats and 
continued on with the Senate.
  This is a good conference report, and I would like to thank all the 
Conferees and their staff who worked on this report. In particular, I 
would like to thank our Conference Committee Chairwoman Kay Bailey 
Hutchison, Chairman Boehlert, Ranking Member Gordon, and Subcommittee 
Chairman Calvert.
  I have been pleased to see how this group has come together to put 
together an authorization bill that enables NASA to take positive steps 
in each of its mission directorates. I believe that it provides an 
essential balance between NASA's core missions as well as a timely 
long-term policy direction for NASA as it embarks on the Moon/Mars 
initiative.
  One of the strengths of this bill is that it highlights NASA's non-
exploration related research and ensures that innovative work continues 
to be done in the Science and Aeronautics programs.
  To ensure the continued health of each of NASA's core missions, it 
sets up a budgetary structure that separates NASA's human space flight 
and exploration accounts from its science, aeronautics, and education 
accounts--in effect, it erects a flexible ``firewall'' between the 
accounts.
  Turning to some of the program-specific features of the conference 
report, I am pleased that it encourages NASA to take up three 
groundbreaking initiatives in subsonic, supersonic and rotor craft R&D 
under its Aeronautics program.
  Progress in aeronautics is crucial to the health of the Nation's air 
transportation industry, which in turn is crucial both to the continued 
strength of our domestic economy and our international competitiveness.
  That R&D also benefits our quality of life and enhances our national 
security. We need to encourage it, and this bill does just that.
  In addition, while the new Exploration initiative at NASA has gotten 
the most public attention recently, NASA's science programs have 
continued to be some of NASA's ``crown jewels''--generating discoveries 
that have been captivating the American public for decades.
  For example, images from Hubble have helped us better understand our 
universe, but they also allow amateur astronomers of all ages to study 
the wonders of space.
  In short, Hubble has truly become the peoples' telescope, and I am 
gratified that this bill calls for a mission to service Hubble to be 
scheduled and authorizes funding accordingly.
  This bill also seeks to make sure that the scientific research on the 
International Space Station achieves its full potential by ensuring 
that both exploration and non-exploration related research is 
performed. Microgravity and life science research can help us better 
understand the affects of space on the human body, moving forward our 
efforts in human exploration beyond low Earth orbit.
  It also has many applications here on Earth, and this bill ensures 
that the ISS will support diverse research goals by requiring that at 
least 15 percent of all research funds for the International Space 
Station are to be used for nonexploration related research such as 
ground-based, free-flyer, and ISS life and microgravity science 
research.
  I believe it is important that we continue to encourage commercial 
involvement in our space missions, including through research 
initiatives. There are several partnerships existing between the 
science community and industry that perform research on the 
International Space Station.
  This bill speaks to the need to preserve fundamental, applied, and 
commercial life sciences and other micro gravity research that allows 
commercial participation in the research performed on Station.
  I would also like to highlight another title of this bill that will 
allow cities and municipalities better access to remote sensing data. 
Many cities in our country--including in my home state of Colorado--are 
faced with a real problem of excess growth and sprawl.
  We now have technology--using geospatial data from satellites--that 
can produce very accurate maps that show information about vegetation, 
wildlife habitat, flood plains, transportation corridors, soil types, 
and many other things.
  This bill includes provisions--based on legislation I had authored 
several years ago--that would establish in NASA a program of grants for 
competitively awarded pilot projects. The purpose of the pilot projects 
would be to explore the integrated use of governmental and commercial 
remote sensing data and other geospatial information to address state, 
local, regional, and tribal agency planning and decision-making needs.
  State and local governments and communities can use geospatial 
information in a variety of applications--in such areas as urban land-
use planning, coastal zone management and erosion control, 
transportation corridors, environmental planning, and agricultural and 
forest management. As I indicated, the provisions in this conference 
report will allow cities and municipalities access to such data from 
many available commercial sources, as well as from governmental 
sources.
  Lastly, I would like to point out the NASA education programs 
authorized in this bill that engage young students in space and earth 
science and encourage them to pursue science, technology, engineering, 
and mathematics (STEM) education and careers. It is no secret that the 
United States is falling behind in producing graduates in STEM 
disciplines. Through programs such as Space Grant,

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NASA is reaching out to students to provide a hands-on experience 
studying space-related fields.
  As a nation we must do more to ensure our students are getting the 
science education they need to compete globally, and I believe these 
NASA programs are taking steps in the right direction to do this.
  Mr. Speaker, there are many other provisions I could highlight, but 
in closing, I simply would like to say that I strongly believe that 
this is a good conference report. It is the product of open dialog and 
negotiations between Democrats and Republicans, House and Senate alike, 
and I am pleased that we were able to bring it to the floor today.
  I would again like to thank my colleagues on the Conference Committee 
for their hard work to make this report a reality. This is the right 
policy for NASA and I urge members to support its passage.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Feeney), another very distinguished member of the 
committee.
  Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank Chairman Boehlert and 
Chairman Calvert and the respective ranking and minority Members.
  We will recall in the aftermath of the Columbia accident, many of us 
on Capitol Hill and the space community observed the drift. America's 
human space program seemed to be adrift in terms of our space flight 
initiative and vision. The President responded with his vision which 
has now become America's vision.
  The conference bill and the report provides unambiguous and 
bipartisan endorsement of America's Vision for Space Exploration. The 
direction of human space flight has now been set for future 
administrations and congresses. I look forward to progressing on this 
ambitious journey of exploration and science.
  As we do move forward, Mr. Speaker, I hope we take to heart the 
Columbia accident investigation board's reminder and admonition that 
NASA ``is an organization straining to do too much with too little.'' 
As we work to provide NASA with a focused mission, including but not 
limited to human space flight, we need to avoid overloading and 
micromanaging this agency and its fine leader, Mr. Griffin.
  With that, I thank the chairman for the time.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of S. 1281, the NASA reauthorization bill of 2005. This 
important legislation will authorize appropriations for NASA for the 
fiscal years 2006 to 2010.

                              {time}  1800

  It provides guidance for the agency and encourages research, 
exploration, and education.
  NASA is important to my State and to the Nation. It has been known 
for its leadership in space exploration, but I want to point out just a 
few of the numerous other benefits NASA research has brought to us.
  Satellites allow instant access to information around the globe. Cell 
phones, cordless appliances, VELCRO, and Teflon all were developed 
through our space program.
  NASA research has been an integral part of our Nation's military 
efforts as well. Satellite imagery and global positioning systems have 
been critical to helping our Armed Forces pinpoint the enemy in battle. 
Unmanned aerial vehicles allow us to see our enemies without putting 
our troops in harm's way.
  Perhaps our greatest achievement has been in the field of medical 
science. In the late 1960s, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed 
digital imaging processing to better view the Moon. Similar technology 
is now used by doctors to view organs inside the body. CAT scans and 
MRIs are revolutionizing our ability to detect tumors early and save 
lives.
  None of these technologies would be possible without NASA research. 
The NASA authorization bill is overdue, and I urge my colleagues to 
support it. I want to thank the leadership both in the House and the 
Senate for bringing us to this point.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the very 
distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), a long-time champion of 
NASA.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Boehlert, 
Subcommittee Chairman Calvert, Mr. Udall, and Mr. Gordon. I just want 
to thank everyone in both Houses who worked on this conference report, 
especially the staff who has done such a fabulous job. And it is good 
that this is a strong bipartisan effort. Space is not Republican or 
Democrat, and I am very proud of the work that you did.
  This conference report meets NASA's immediate and long-term needs and 
puts into place the policies needed for NASA to take its next giant 
step for mankind over the next 3 years, and that of course will not 
only make good on President Bush's Vision for Space Exploration; it 
will make good on the brave and brilliant capabilities of the men and 
women of our space program.
  Specifically, the conference has wisely chosen to fully fund the 
space shuttle program and its 19 remaining missions; to fully fund the 
buildout and assembly of the international space station; and to fully 
fund the crew exploration vehicle.
  To meet those vision-related challenges, the conference has also 
combined the space shuttle and its exploration activities accounts to 
provide NASA greater flexibility in deploying those resources; it calls 
for the elimination in any gap between the retirement of the shuttle 
and the deployment of the CEV, so that America is never voluntarily 
shut out of space.
  It encourages NASA to tap the valuable knowledge of its highly 
experienced shuttle workforce in the development of the CEV, and it 
includes new authority for NASA to increase its visibility with a 
national public awareness campaign to articulate its exciting missions 
and publicize its tremendous accomplishments.
  Mr. Speaker, in this conference report, the first reauthorization in 
5 years and the first since the President announced his vision, we have 
set NASA's course, relying on the courage and ingenuity of the NASA 
family to accomplish their mission by returning mankind to the Moon and 
sending us on to Mars.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
gentleman from Tennessee for yielding me this time, and I want to 
applaud the chairman of the full committee and the ranking member for 
their leadership and the work that they have done in working with all 
the Members for what I think will be a very large scientific statement 
for America.
  I want to also thank the subcommittee ranking member and the 
subcommittee chair, as well, for their collegiality and their interest 
in moving NASA forward and the members who work on the committee and 
the subcommittee.
  I am very pleased to congratulate all who have had a part, also the 
staff, in this great coming together of not only reinforcing our 
commitment to space exploration but a recognition of the need for 
balance in the Nation's budget.
  I am very pleased to note the $10 billion for exploration systems and 
space operations and the continuing support of the international space 
station. And might I also thank my colleagues for being very 
sympathetic to the language that we included that deals specifically 
with the question of safety and the language that was added that 
provides for a review of NASA's safety management as well as a report 
on the use and dissemination of best practices, and expanded whistle-
blower protection that allows those employees of NASA to be able to 
report without concern of recrimination on the issue of safety and the 
issue of health.
  Let me also thank my colleagues for accepting my language on creating 
the framework for a commission to investigate future U.S. space vehicle 
accidents as well as a task force to evaluate and report on 
international space safety.
  Again, I am very pleased that the international space station has 
been declared a national laboratory, because it was this kind of 
research that found us new advances in HIV/AIDS, stroke, and other 
diseases.

[[Page 29345]]

  And I guess my greatest appreciation is for the announcement of the 
Dr. Mae C. Jemison Grant Program to work with minority-serving 
institutions to bring more women of color into the field of space and 
aeronautics. Might I share with you that in a 2001 graph we saw that of 
the science and engineering doctorate holders 2.8 percent were black 
and 2.7 percent were Hispanic. And in engineering it was 1.8 percent 
black and 2.0 percent Hispanic. We want America's youth to find their 
way to engineering and the sciences. This program in the NASA 
organization will be a great step towards that.
  Many of us remember Dr. Mae Jemison. She blasted into orbit aboard 
the space shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992, making her the 
world's first woman of color to go into space and the city of Chicago's 
first astronaut in U.S. history. As a young girl and teenager, she was 
always interested in science, especially astronomy, and was encouraged 
by her parents and teachers to pursue not only her science studies but 
also dance and art.
  She went on to receive her bachelor of science in chemical 
engineering and a B.A. in Afro-American Studies from Stanford and her 
medical doctorate from Cornell University. She joined NASA in 1987.
  Dr. Jemison was quoted in Newsweek as saying, ``One of the things 
that I'm very concerned about is that as African Americans, as women, 
many times we do not feel we have the power to change the world and 
society as a whole.'' She certainly changed the world and society as a 
whole, along with Eileen Collins, who was one of the outstanding 
commanders that we had in the recent space flight.
  I believe this legislation will move us forward; and I would like to 
thank James Williams, my staff, and all the staff for the great work 
they have done. I ask my colleagues to enthusiastically support this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in complete support of the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 which authorizes 
funding for NASA for fiscal years 2008 and 2009, and among other things 
gives Congressional endorsement to the Vision for Space Exploration and 
authorizes. Before continuing I would like to first thank Members on 
both sides of the aisle and their staffs for all the hard work that 
went into making this bill a success. I am also pleased to see that in 
light of the limited time we have remaining in the year; we were able 
to move quickly on this bill.
  Let me take a moment to state that NASA is at a very pivotal moment 
in its history and therefore it is the responsibility of this Congress 
to ensure that the future of NASA is one of continued progress. After 
the tragic Columbia Space Shuttle accident the Science Committee and 
this Congress were forced to reevaluate NASA's purpose. I have stated 
that safety must be the number one priority of NASA; however this 
should not deter NASA from pushing the boundaries of technology and 
discovery. I feel confident that this Reauthorization bill addresses 
both safety and discovery in a comprehensive manner.
  I am also pleased to see that we were able to address a few issues of 
importance to me. Two of which are Whistleblower Protection for NASA 
employees and the creation of the Dr. Mae C. Jemison Grant Program to 
work with Minority Serving Institutions to bring more women of color 
into the field of space and aeronautics. In terms of Whistleblower 
Protections for NASA employees, it is important that we move forward in 
providing protection to NASA employees who present concerns about 
health and safety. During a hearing held in the Science Committee, 
Admiral Gehman and the Columbia Accident Investigation Board explained 
how fear of retaliation by management, had lead some engineers to 
stifle their concerns about the safety and well-being of NASA missions 
and crew. My Whistleblower language creates needed protections for NASA 
workers and sets forth certain specific reporting requirements for 
NASA. These two combined will help to bring about a safer and more 
productive NASA.
  In terms of Dr. Mae C. Jemison, the language in this bill would 
create a grant program named in honor of Dr. Mae Jemison blasted into 
orbit aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992 making 
her the world's first woman of color to go into space, and the city of 
Chicago's first astronaut in U.S. history. As a young girl and teenager 
she was always interested in science, especially astronomy, and was 
encouraged by her parents and teachers to pursue not only her science 
studies, but also dance and art. She went on to receive her Bachelor of 
Science in Chemical Engineering and a BA in Afro-American Studies from 
Stanford and her medical doctorate from Cornell University she joined 
NASA in 1987. Jemison continues to serve as a role model to women and 
African Americans. She told Newsweek, ``One of the things that I'm very 
concerned about is that as African-Americans, as women, many times we 
do not feel that we have the power to change the world and society as a 
whole.'' With her life and accomplishments she has proven that idea 
truly wrong. While the bill only establishes the program, I look 
forward to working with appropriators when we return next year to fully 
fund this program.
  Before closing, I am also pleased to see that the bill requires 
NASA's Administrator to establish an independent task force to review 
the International Space Station program with the objective of 
discovering and assessing any vulnerabilities of the International 
Space Station that could lead to its destruction, compromise the health 
of its crew, or necessitate its premature abandonment. The independent 
task force shall, to the extent possible, undertake the following 
tasks:
  Catalogue threats to and vulnerabilities of the ISS, including design 
flaws, natural phenomena, computer software or hardware flaws, sabotage 
or terrorist attack, number of crewmembers, inability to adequately 
deliver replacement parts and supplies, and management or procedural 
deficiencies.
  Make recommendations for corrective actions.
  Provide any additional findings or recommendations related to ISS 
safety.
  Prepare a report to the Administrator, Congress, and the public.
  As I close and as a Member of the House Science Committee, I am 
honored to have been a part of this process and the successes achieved 
here today.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon).
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Boehlert for 
yielding me this time, and I commend him and Ranking Member Gordon for 
the hard work they did. It was a long process moving this piece of 
legislation through. I also want to commend Subcommittee Chairman 
Calvert. I know he worked very hard on this.
  It is now almost 2 years since President Bush first enunciated a 
vision to go back to the Moon and on to Mars; to develop a new space 
vehicle to replace the space shuttle. We in the House quickly 
recognized when the President put forward this ambitious plan, and it 
was a wonderful thing the President did in doing this, because many 
people felt it was the first time since Jack Kennedy's original call to 
go to the Moon by the end of the decade of the 1960s, that it was the 
first time since then that a President had boldly stood up and 
proclaimed a vision for NASA.
  We knew then, Members of the House, that we would need new 
authorizing legislation, particularly for the process of retiring the 
space shuttle and bringing a new man-rated launch vehicle on line that 
would have the capability of carrying men and women into space.
  This legislation is very important. It is very needed. Though I tend 
to focus mainly on the issues that pertain to the manned space flight 
program, as the representative of the area that includes Cape Canaveral 
and Kennedy Space Center, this legislation has important sections that 
deal with our Nation's critical investment in aeronautics research and 
science; and, therefore, it is critically important that we pass this 
legislation as we move forward next year.
  The bill calls for additional funding for NASA in the 2006 
appropriation, as well as 2007 and 2008, that will meet the critical 
needs for our Nation's aerospace industries and our manned space flight 
program in the years ahead. I commend the work of all those involved.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Kucinich).
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the NASA 
reauthorization act. I would like to begin by thanking those colleagues 
who worked so hard to create a bill that is beneficial to the Nation. 
Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member Udall deserve thanks for their 
leadership in ensuring NASA remains well balanced

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and healthy. I want to thank Chairman Frank Wolf for his support in 
this endeavor, and also Congresswoman Davis.
  I also want to thank Mr. DeLay for his support in our efforts to 
maintain NASA in Cleveland. I would like to thank members of the Ohio 
delegation who worked with me to ensure the bill's success.
  I want to stress that there is a lot that happens here where we have 
partisan conflict, but on this bill we had tremendous bipartisan 
support in the Ohio delegation, which included Steve LaTourette, 
Sherrod Brown, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Michael Turner, Jean Schmidt, 
Paul Gillmor, Ted Strickland, David Hobson, Michael Oxley, Steve 
Chabot, Marcy Kaptur, John Boehner, Pat Tiberi, Bob Ney, Tim Ryan, 
Deborah Pryce, Ralph Regula, Senator DeWine and Senator Voinovich, and 
in addition, Rob Portman. We all worked together on this. Every one of 
us made an effort.
  This is a landmark bill because it affirms that so much depends on a 
healthy NASA. A healthy NASA, in turn, depends on an emphasis in 
aeronautics in addition to an emphasis on space. This is critical to 
the economy.
  Aeronautics contributes more to the U.S. balance of trade than any 
other U.S. manufacturing industry. NASA's aeronautics research is also 
critical to national security. It has spawned technologies from 
surveillance systems that monitor aircraft flight paths, to the 
development of secure communications systems. NASA's aeronautics 
research has contributed to aircraft safety, reducing wind sheer and 
icing as major risks in airline travel.
  In order to maintain their unparalleled track record, NASA first 
needs a road map for aeronautics, just as it had one for the Vision for 
Space Exploration. This bill provides that road map.
  While the map is being drawn, NASA's aeronautics infrastructure must 
be preserved, starting with the world-class, award-winning workforce at 
NASA's field centers like NASA Glenn in Cleveland. This bill prevents 
involuntary reductions in force until at least March of 2007 and calls 
for a workforce shaping plan. It also provides necessary funding.
  This bill further prevents reckless and semipermanent elimination of 
testing facilities, like wind tunnels and propulsion testing 
facilities, and encourages long-term basic research in areas like low-
emissions and zero-emissions aircraft, microgravity, engine efficiency, 
and noise reduction. These are all tremendously beneficial to Ohio and 
the Nation.
  This bill makes NASA more sustainable. It strikes a balance between 
space and aeronautics and ensures that NASA will continue to contribute 
to our economy, national security, airline safety, and the environment. 
It is a significant step forward for Ohio, and I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
  I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their support 
and their leadership on this matter.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, for the reasons just cited by my 
distinguished colleague from Ohio, I remain an enthusiastic supporter 
of a robust aeronautics program at NASA. It provides so much benefit to 
the U.S. economy.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 1 minute to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall).
  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I join in lauding the leaders, the chairman, 
the minority leaders, the subcommittee chairman, and everyone who has 
worked on this to hammer out this bill.
  Investing in NASA not only keeps this country at the forefront of 
exploration and innovation but it is also vital to our economy and our 
national security. By investing less than 1 percent of the budget, we 
get exponential growth in scientific and technological spinoffs. From 
the development of MRI technology to microchips, the scientific 
partnerships between NASA and American universities and companies 
ensure our Nation's viability.
  We need to keep America at the forefront of innovations and discovery 
for generations to come.
  When President Bush announced the new Vision for Space Exploration in 
January 2004, I was excited to see that NASA had a new direction and 
focus for the future. Our ventures into space not only keep America at 
the forefront of exploration and innovation, but they also are vital to 
our economy and our national security. This new Vision sets America on 
a course toward the Moon and Mars, and we should embrace this dream and 
work to make it a reality.
  Today's authorization act for NASA outlines the broad goals of this 
Vision. While it embraces the exploration agenda of the space agency, 
it also bolsters other vital NASA programs in science and aeronautics 
that keep America competitive globally.
  This is a well-balanced bill, and I commend my colleagues and their 
staff for crafting such a fine piece of legislation. I am particularly 
pleased that the bill includes my provision that directs Administrator 
Griffin to develop a Crew Exploration Vehicle with a robust crew escape 
system. As we implement the new space vision, I will work to ensure 
that NASA fulfills this priority and minimizes the risks for our brave 
men and women who fly our space missions. Our hopes and dreams ride 
with them, and we must do all we can, at whatever cost is necessary, to 
ensure their safety.
  I urge Members to pass this bill. With the Space Shuttle and 
International Space Station, America has proven its preeminence in 
Space. We need to keep America at the forefront of innovation and 
discovery for generations to come.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), the House's poet laureate.

                              {time}  1815

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, if someone had said some of 
the most fiscally, self-proclaimed, conservative members of the House 
were going to come to the floor and ask us to spend $100 billion or 
$200 billion on a nonessential project, people would have said, when 
pigs fly. Well, that is this bill. Did you see who got up to speak? 
Everybody who has got a NASA facility. The pork is very much in this 
bill, but it is flying pork. So this is literally the occasion when 
pigs fly, at least in the nature of pork, when all of the 
representatives of the NASA places come up here.
  Now, I agree with the gentleman from New York and my friend from 
Cleveland.
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. I yield briefly to my friend from Ohio.
  Mr. KUCINICH. I just want to, for the record, state that I am a 
vegan. I do not consume pork.
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. The gentleman may not consume pork, but 
he sure produces it.
  The fact is that we are about to take up a continuing resolution that 
will make severe cuts in many, many important programs here on earth, 
and we will be told that the problem is the fiscal constraints. Members 
will lament the fact that we cannot adequately fund health care and 
environment and transportation and other things, and then we vote for a 
bill that says, as a binding policy, we are going to send a man to 
Mars. My friend from Missouri asks me, well, what happens when he gets 
there? Well, he comes back. That is why it is so expensive.
  I agree about what was said about aeronautics; it is so important. I 
agree with space experimentation, primarily unmanned. But sending human 
beings to Mars, which this bill unfortunately endorses, is an 
extravagance; it is a psychological stunt. The amount of scientific 
gain you get comes from the aeronautics, from the unmanned space, even 
from some of the manned space in a more limited way. But when I first 
got here, we were told we had to do the space shuttle because we had to 
compete with the Soviet Union, and I did not think it was a good idea, 
the space station, not the space shuttle. Then the Cold War ended, and 
now we are told we have to keep doing the space station to cooperate 
with the Soviet Union. If we go a few more years, we will have to do it 
in memory of the Soviet Union.
  There is a determination to spend far beyond any rational principle. 
I agree with much of what is here, but going to Mars? A country that 
faces the fiscal problems we face? We are quibbling, we are arguing 
over how well to protect New Orleans: Do we go to category 3 or 
category 4? But then in this parallel

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universe, we are going to spend $200 billion to send men to Mars. Of 
course, you can tell it is a parallel universe; it is the one no one 
lives in; it is the one where they are willing to spend money.
  So as you are told to accept the tough cuts that the gentleman from 
Wisconsin is going to outline when you vote for that CR and when you 
try to tell people back home, ``I am sorry, I could not give you money 
for health care and for education and for the environment and for 
transportation,'' remember that you are mortgaging that with this 
useless piece of flying pork of sending men to Mars.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my distinguished colleague 
from Massachusetts for his observations, and I wish to add to his 
comfort level. Because on page 5 of our report, it points out in 
section D: Enabling humans to land on and return from Mars and other 
destinations on a timetable that is technically feasible and fiscally 
possible.
  As the gentleman well knows, my interest is in advancing the science 
agenda for the Nation. The good science that is part of the space 
vision does not guarantee a vehicle to go to Mars, it guarantees that 
good science goes forward.
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. BOEHLERT. I yield to my colleague from Massachusetts.
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. I thank the gentleman. And I have never 
been happier that it is the Hall of Fame and not NASA that is in 
Cooperstown.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let me first inform my friend from Massachusetts that I 
have no NASA facility in or near my district, so I try to be an honest 
broker in this authorization. I will also point out, in this 2-year 
authorization, more than 99 plus percent of the authorization goes to 
non-Mars related issues. So I think we have tried to put a balance in 
here. As the chairman has pointed out and I have pointed out, we very 
much think that NASA needs to be a multi-mission agency with aviation, 
education and so many other things that are so important to this 
agency. For that reason, we put firewalls into this bill so that they 
cannot be poached for things that we think might be a lesser priority. 
So, hopefully, we will be able to reach that balance.
  Let me also just finally say that I am sure that Spain had a very 
tough budget when Isabella decided that it was worthwhile to make an 
investment in Columbus. I think that when we look at these issues, 
certainly education, nutrition programs, all these things are 
important, and one can say even more important. But there needs to be a 
balance. We have tried to reach a balance that we think has been a 
responsible balance, and that is why it has been a bipartisan, 
bicameral approach.
  I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished gentleman from 
Tennessee for yielding.
  This is a bill that also focuses on science, and science has, over 
the years, been the economic engine of our Nation. The more we are at 
the cutting edge of science and the inventions that provide new 
opportunities for work, new opportunities for industry, we are 
advancing the economic opportunities of Americans. That is what is 
within this bill in many, many instances, beyond where the NASA centers 
are located.
  I want to thank, again, the chairman and the ranking member for 
working together and having the focus of this bill really be on science 
and all that we can produce through scientific research.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I will just close by saying that a purpose 
for having an authorization is a portion of oversight. And I think Mr. 
Frank really has been beneficial for us in making us justify ourselves, 
making us have part of this oversight. It is a better bill, a healthier 
bill for that. I think it can live up to the scrutiny.
  With that, I would like to yield to my friend from Missouri for some 
remarks.
  Mr. SKELTON. I thank my friend for yielding.
  Mark Twain once said: The more you explain it to me, the more I don't 
understand it.
  I want to know where the Defense bill is; 3 o'clock yesterday 
afternoon, we ended our conference. By 5 o'clock, we filed the 
necessary signatures, both the Senate and the House, and yet the 
Defense bill is not even on any calendar whatsoever. This is 
outrageous.
  I understand the Republican leadership wishes to put some extraneous 
matter onto the bill. But the proper procedure was followed. It was a 
torturous, difficult, but a fair ending, and we signed the report. Yet, 
the Defense bill is not there, being held up for some extraneous 
misunderstanding, reason. I just don't understand it.
  I want that Defense bill on the floor. The United States of America 
wants it on the floor. We have young men and young women in uniform all 
over this world, Afghanistan, Iraq, and yet we can't get the bill here 
that authorizes a pay raise, TRICARE for reservists, all the ammunition 
that they need, the medical care that we need, the policies set forth 
in the detainee language, all of this that has been worked out. Yet we 
don't have the bill. I don't understand it.
  Please explain it to us and to the American people: Where in the 
world is the Defense bill, the authorization bill?
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Culberson).
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, as a House Republican who, I believe my 
fiscal conservative ratings are typically among the top ten most 
conservative in the House; I have no NASA facilities in my district; 
and I am a passionate advocate for NASA, a strong supporter of this 
legislation, because I recognize the importance of investing in our 
Nation's future through investments and the scientific and 
technological innovations that only NASA and the space program have 
been able to produce for us. From the Blackberry on our belts, the 
microcomputers, the computer chips on our office desks, to satellite 
technology and cell phone technology to medical technology, NASA has 
touched every one of our lives. I applaud the chairman and the 
leadership for bringing this bill to the floor, and it is very 
important that we get behind President Bush's vision, because only by 
investing in NASA and strengthening our investment in scientific and 
medical research will we maintain America's leadership role in the 
world.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I again urge passage of this bill and yield 
the remainder of my time to my friend from Michigan (Mr. Levin).
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, just quickly, to follow up what Mr. Skelton 
has talked about, the Defense authorization bill was signed, and here 
is what I read in CQ: ``House Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter 
confirmed through a spokesman that he inserted the provision,'' this is 
totally extraneous, apparently, if that happened after the signatures, 
``at the behest of House leadership.''
  And this is a quote: ```Hunter reserves the right to support the 
leadership team,' said Harald Stavenas, his spokesman.''
  Get the authorization bill on the floor.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the staff who have worked 
so diligently on this bill all year and who have been really on 
constant alert since the loss of the space shuttle Columbia. That staff 
includes David Goldston, John Mimikakis, Bill Adkins, Roselee Roberts, 
Tom Hammond, Ken Monroe, Johannes Loschnigg, Shep Bryan, Ed Feddeman, 
Christy Carles, as well as the minority staff, Chuck Atkins and Dick 
Obermann. They have been a team working together in common cause.
  I would also be remiss if I did not thank Administrator Griffin and 
his staff, particularly Brian Chase, who are always available and who 
were willing to work to reach a compromise. And might I say how 
refreshing it has been to be so candid as Administrator Griffin has 
been. Administrator Griffin continues to do a superb job, and we

[[Page 29348]]

hope this bill will help him do that job, even though, like all of us, 
he would not have written each provision the way we did. But in the 
final analysis, we have got a good bill that is worthy of the support 
of this House. We have got a good bill that is good for America because 
of the vitality it brings to the economy, and we have got a good bill 
because Democrats and Republicans worked it out together.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the conference report on the Senate 
bill, S. 1281.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the conference report was agreed 
to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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