[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12364-12368]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008

  The Committee resumed its sitting.


                 Amendment No. 10 Offered by Mr. Hodes

  The CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 10 printed 
in House Report 110-707.
  Mr. HODES. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 10 offered by Mr. Hodes:
       In title XI, add at the end the following new section (and 
     amend the table of contents accordingly):

     SEC. 1109. CHRISTA MCAULIFFE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR FIELDS 
                   RELATED TO THE MISSION OF NASA.

       The Administrator shall establish a scholarship program in 
     honor of Christa McAuliffe, who died in the 1986 Challenger 
     Space Shuttle Disaster. The scholarship fund would provide 
     scholarships each year of $10,000 each to three women who are 
     going to college to study in fields related to the mission of 
     NASA, with the goal of seeking careers in space science, 
     aeronautics, and other fields related to NASA.

  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 1257, the gentleman from 
New Hampshire (Mr. Hodes) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Hampshire.
  Mr. HODES. Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  This amendment will honor a fallen hero from New Hampshire who was 
beloved by the Nation. Christa McAuliffe was a teacher from Concord, 
New

[[Page 12365]]

Hampshire, who achieved national fame for being the first educator 
selected to go into space. To those who knew her at home and loved her, 
she was a social studies teacher who touched the lives of hundreds of 
New Hampshire's children.
  When she was selected by NASA to join the 1986 Challenger Crew, she 
touched a chord with all of the American people. They saw her 
dedication to teaching and learning. She believed in helping our 
children succeed. She often said, I touch the future. I teach.
  Even though her life was cut tragically short when the Challenger 
exploded, her message about shaping our Nation's future through 
education and exploration is the reason we are here today to consider 
this important measure.
  This amendment will provide three scholarships for women to pursue 
degrees in science and other fields related to NASA's mission. Christa 
always dreamed of going into space, and today we can create the 
opportunity for more women to fulfill their dream of one day being able 
to journey into space and pursue careers in science, mathematics, and 
other science-related fields.
  These scholarships honor Christa McAuliffe, they honor her dream and 
are a fitting tribute to her great sacrifice.
  Madam Chairman, I urge passage of this amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FEENEY. Madam Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition, 
although I'm not necessarily opposed.
  The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the gentleman from Florida is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FEENEY. Again, this is an amendment we enthusiastically support. 
NASA does a great deal to incentivize education programs for women 
engineers and scientists, but a lot of us Americans remember exactly 
where we were the moment that Ms. McAuliffe and her colleagues 
perished. It reminds all of us that human space flight is an inherently 
risky venture and especially for teachers throughout America and school 
children who were contemporaries of the Challenger disaster.
  I think the gentleman's amendment makes a really good point and with 
that, I would support the amendment and urge its adoption.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HODES. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his kind and 
heartfelt remarks.
  At this time, Madam Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my colleague from 
Colorado (Mr. Udall).
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman 
from New Hampshire for yielding to me.
  I'm pleased to support this amendment as co-chair of the STEM 
Education Caucus along with my colleague, Dr. Ehlers, from Michigan. 
We've long worked to create emphasis on science and math education 
programs. These areas of study are critical to our future economic 
competitiveness as well as to the future of our space program.
  It is very appropriate to honor the life of educator and astronaut 
Christa McAuliffe with this scholarship program.
  I'm proud to support this amendment and urge all my colleagues to 
support it.
  Mr. HODES. I thank the gentleman.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Hodes).
  The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. HODES. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings 
on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Hampshire will be 
postponed.


                Amendment No. 11 Offered by Mr. Yarmuth

  The CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 11 printed 
in House Report 110-707.
  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 11 offered by Mr. Yarmuth:
       In title II, add at the end the following new section (and 
     amendment the table of contents accordingly):

     SEC. 209. SHARING WEATHER RESEARCH.

       The Administrator shall work to ensure that NASA's policies 
     on the sharing of climate related data respond to the 
     recommendations of the Government Accountability Office's 
     report on climate change research and data-sharing policies 
     and to the recommendations on the processing, distribution, 
     and archiving of data by the National Academies Earth Science 
     Decadal Survey, Earth Science and Applications from Space, 
     and other relevant National Academies reports, to enhance and 
     facilitate their availability and widest possible use to 
     ensure public access to accurate and current data on global 
     warming.

  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 1257, the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Before I begin, I want to thank Chairman Gordon, Chairman Udall, and 
Ranking Member Hall for their leadership and their hard work that has 
gone into the NASA Authorization Act.
  The amendment I have offered today to the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 will make sure that the 
American public has access to the best and most up-to-date taxpayer-
funded Federal research.
  In the transparent government we wish to provide to the American 
people, the suppression of nonsensitive information has no place. Yet 
last year, I took part in two Oversight and Government Reform Committee 
hearings where we investigated instances in which critical data on the 
causes and long-term effects of global warming were withheld from the 
American public.
  The taxpayers are funding government studies every day, and they 
should fully benefit from the results. To proceed otherwise is a 
disservice to science and the American people.
  In order to protect the integrity of scientific discoveries and to 
ensure the widespread availability of the research being conducted by 
government scientists, the Government Accountability Office and the 
National Academy of Sciences made a series of recommendations. Those 
recommendations include making available the information that supports 
published results to other researchers creating an infrastructure in 
which data can be easily accessed, and releasing research in an 
affordable and timely fashion.
  The amendment I'm proposing would simply require NASA to develop a 
response to these recommendations. These provisions would further 
scientific progress by enabling data sharing between government 
agencies, colleges, universities, and grant recipients. It's also my 
understanding that NASA agrees with the recommendations of the GAO.
  The United States has the advantage of being home to some of the 
greatest scientific minds of the world, and by providing these 
scientists with the most up-to-date research information, we can help 
ensure that American innovation stays on the cutting edge.
  At this crucial time when America strives to end its addiction to 
oil, it could not be more important to ensure that our Nation's 
scientists have every possible advantage in working towards the next 
generation of discoveries, inventions, cures, and energy solutions.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment which 
will ensure that the American people have unfettered access to reliable 
information that their tax dollars help to undercover while giving 
American ingenuity another edge in revolutionizing the world.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FEENEY. Madam Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition, 
although I'm not necessarily opposed to the amendment.

[[Page 12366]]

  The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the gentleman from Florida is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1730

  Mr. FEENEY. Madam Chairman, I will not necessarily oppose this 
amendment. I will point out that I think the amendment provides some 
confusing requirements on NASA.
  On the one hand, for example, it says, ``The administrator shall work 
to ensure that NASA's policies on the sharing of climate-related data 
respond to the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office 
report on climate change research and data-sharing policies.''
  But then the amendment goes on to direct the administrator to also 
align the agency's policies to recommendations contained in a National 
Academy report on Earth Science Applications and ``other relevant 
National Academy reports.''
  It doesn't seem to provide any discretion at NASA to determine 
amongst a whole bevy or multitude of academy reports from all over the 
place as to which ones are meritorious or more meritorious than others. 
There seems to be some confusion here in terms of what NASA ought to 
determine.
  Most importantly, I think we want NASA to make determinations based 
on good science. That's what they've been charged with. NASA has long 
been a leader in promoting both domestically and internationally the 
full and open access to science data to all.
  I would also point out that NASA data and information are accessible 
to the public, on the Web through the NASA Web site.
  And finally, we've already discussed the fact that NASA has a set of 
policies about data and information sharing that I think are 
comprehensive and are working today quite well.
  With that, I would indicate again that I have no objection to the 
language; although I do think it creates some ambiguity and confusion.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. YARMUTH. I thank the gentleman, and I appreciate the point made 
by my colleague.
  The intent of the amendment is that, since the Government 
Accountability Office has set a broad range of actions that they 
recommend in a very general sense, we wanted to provide the flexibility 
to NASA and to the other agencies--although this amendment only covers 
NASA--to develop guidelines for the sharing of data that comply broadly 
with those guidelines set down by the GAO.
  So, with that, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth).
  The amendment was agreed to.


          Amendment No. 12 Offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas

  The CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 12 printed 
in House Report 110-707.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 12 offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas:
       In section 1108--
       (1) in subsection (a), strike ``small businesses'' and 
     insert ``small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses''; 
     and
       (2) in subsection (b)(2), insert ``, giving preference to 
     socially and economically disadvantaged small business 
     concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     service-disabled veterans, and HUBZone small business 
     concerns. This paragraph shall not apply to any contracting 
     actions entered into or taken by the Agency'' after ``to 
     small businesses''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 1257, the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, let me thank the committee, 
both the ranking member, Mr. Hall, and the chairman of the full 
committee, as well as the subcommittee chairs and ranking members.
  It is a pleasure to have had the honor and privilege of serving on 
the Science Committee for a number of years and to congratulate them 
for its very important work. I believe the Science Committee, as I've 
indicated, creates the work of the 21st century: science and technology 
and research.
  My amendment has a very simple premise, and it is an amendment to the 
program of which Mr. Lampson of Texas has created that is part of the 
Innovative Partnerships Program that NASA's had for a very long time.
  The amendment clarifies that the NASA Outreach and Technology 
Assistance Program will include small, minority-owned and women-owned 
businesses. But as well, it specifically focuses on small business 
concerns owned and controlled, which is part of the existing law, by 
service-disabled veterans and HUBZone small business concerns. So this 
will be added to small businesses. What better way to ensure diversity 
than to ensure that our returning veterans, service-disabled, have the 
further opportunity of participating in this program.
  And Madam Chairman, let me share with you how vital small businesses 
are, no matter where they are. First of all, small firms represent 99.7 
percent of all employer firms. They employ about half of all private 
sector employees. They pay more than 45 percent of the total U.S. 
payroll, and in 2006, we believe there were 26.8 million businesses.
  When you speak to veterans, it seems that it's their cup of tea. 
They're independent, they're resilient, and yes, they've fought a war. 
And so, there's given emphasis in selection of the businesses to 
participate in this technology and outreach program to socially and 
economically disadvantaged small business concerns, and as I indicated, 
to service-disabled veterans and HUBZone small businesses.
  The interesting part of this effort, of course, is the very backbone 
of our economy will get the opportunity to benefit from the strength of 
this great NASA program.
  And the full committee has been very fair in the dollars that they've 
put in science and research and the space exploration program, and 
this, of course, would provide an opportunity for our small businesses 
to be right in the middle.
  I believe that science and technology creates the work of the 21st 
century, and for that reason, this program and its ability to reach out 
to these small businesses is a plus for us. They will include the 
opportunity to hire people who have that technology training. They will 
reach out to various universities, Hispanic-serving and historically 
black colleges and other colleges around the Nation, to get the 
employees that will work in these small firms, and they'll have the 
technological training that is so important.
  I hope my colleagues will support this and continue to support the 
opportunity for outreach, particularly as it creates jobs and interests 
and commitment to the NASA mentality and the NASA technology, and it 
puts America on the cutting edge.
  I reserve my time.
  Mr. FEENEY. Madam Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition; 
although I'm not certain I oppose the amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Florida is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FEENEY. I guess at the outset, I'd like, if she would yield, to 
ask my friend a question because, as I understand the amendment, what 
it does is to require NASA to contract with a company or companies that 
have a demonstrated ability to do business and to work with certain 
companies. Right now, the language gives essentially a requirement that 
we find small businesses that we can cooperate and work with. I think 
all of us support that.
  I don't understand the language in her amendment. It will substitute 
for small business, substitute the language in quotes, small, minority-
owned and women-owned businesses, end of quote; is that conjunctive or 
disjunctive? If a

[[Page 12367]]

company has a great record, for example, in its area of working with 
minority-owned businesses or women-owned businesses or small businesses 
or, for example, if a contractor has one subcontractor, do they have to 
demonstrate that they will be able to have three different contractors, 
one that's a small business, one that's a minority-owned, and one 
that's a women-owned business?
  If it's a disjunctive, if they can demonstrate ability really to 
reach out to smaller companies or minority or women, that's terrific, 
but it may present a real host of problems if it is conjunctive.
  I would be happy to yield to my friend to explain whether it's 
disjunctive or conjunctive.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I'm glad the gentleman asked the question, 
and the gentleman is right in terms of the positive and not the 
negative. It is ``and,'' it is including. It is to indicate that if 
these businesses are around, reach out to them.
  And again, this does not impact any contracts of NASA. It only 
impacts the access to this outreach program, and to have small 
businesses, if a small business is there, they're there. But to ensure 
that others are aware of the program and can participate in it.
  And of course, it just adds that those who will be part of the 
outreach will be women-owned, will be HUBZone businesses, and will also 
be disabled veterans, many of whom are returning back to the country.
  Mr. FEENEY. Reclaiming my time, I should point out that the minority 
happily worked on a manager's amendment, where we enthusiastically 
endorsed the concept that the administrator ought to contract with 
external organizations to facilitate new technologies for NASA to new 
businesses.
  And we were sort of provided this at the last moment. We don't really 
have a chance to examine what the effects are. There may be a 
contractor out there that only has one subcontractor. There may not be 
specific types of the businesses.
  Though I don't necessarily oppose the amendment, I would suggest that 
there may be practical problems depending on how this becomes 
interpreted, and suddenly, we're adding additional requirements.
  I think all of us want to help women-owned businesses. We've already 
done a scholarship today. I think minority-owned businesses are part of 
Federal contracting law. I think this specific language was designed to 
help all small businesses, without regard to what specific gender or 
ethnicity or background they had. We certainly support assistance in 
helping recently returned or long-standing veterans organizations.
  We don't object to the intent of the gentlelady's amendment. I guess 
we have some real concerns as a practical matter. Small contractors, 
we're trying to encourage, by the way, NASA not just to pick the 
Goliaths that then get to divvy out the work. We're trying to encourage 
NASA to get down and help do business directly with small contractors 
that are capable.
  This may become impossible for small businesses to comply with if 
they only had one or two contracts and one or two subs.
  So, with that, I will not oppose the amendment. I will be happy to 
yield to my friend to respond.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I want to again reaffirm to the gentleman 
that this does not impact contracts. This only impacts the ability to 
participate in getting technical assistance and accessing the wisdom 
and the expertise of NASA.
  In addition, the language is small, comma, and then it goes on. So no 
one is replaced. It is simply adding a list and saying, don't forget 
this list as well. It will not replace anyone, and it will not replace 
anyone or require a small contractor to replace or be replaced, if you 
will. It is all about technical training and assistance.
  Mr. FEENEY. Reclaiming my time, I understand the gentlelady's intent, 
and actually, I agree with her, given the explanation.
  I mean, we've got a NASA Web site. NASA does data sharing. Hopefully, 
they don't exclude anybody that the gentlelady's talking about. I'm not 
sure what requirements that contractors that have access to NASA data, 
that may not be publicly shared, have now got to do that they're not 
doing. But with that, sometimes we just hope that the details get 
worked out later in the process, as Chairman Gordon has already 
reminded me earlier today.
  With that, I will not oppose the amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. If I might simply close and thank the 
distinguished gentleman, Mr. Feeney, for his inquiries and, as well, 
his clarification.
  And with that, I would indicate that this is a reemphasis of how 
important small businesses are, accessing technical assistance, and I 
would ask my colleagues to support the Jackson-Lee amendment dealing 
with expanding opportunities to socially and disadvantaged businesses 
and, of course, returning veterans and other HUBZones.
  I ask my colleagues to support this amendment for technical 
assistance.
  Madam Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 6063, the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
2008. My amendment modifies section 1108, and it states:

       (1) in subsection (a), strike ``small businesses'' and 
     insert ``small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses''; 
     and
       (2) in subsection (b)(2), insert ``, giving preference to 
     socially and economically disadvantaged small business 
     concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     service-disabled veterans, and HUBZone small business 
     concerns'' after ``to small businesses.''

  My amendment clarifies that the NASA Outreach and Technology 
Assistance Program will include small, minority-owned, and women-owned 
businesses. It would also give preference, in selection of businesses 
to participate in the program, to socially and economically 
disadvantaged small business concerns, small business concerns owned 
and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and HUBZone small business 
concerns.
  Madam Chairman, I would like to thank my colleague and fellow Texan, 
Congressman Lampson, for his leadership in authoring the important 
section describing the NASA Outreach and Technology Assistance Program. 
As set forth in this legislation, this program is intended to support 
the mission of NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program to provide 
technical assistance through joint partnerships with industry, 
academia, government agencies, and national laboratories. It will 
facilitate technology transfer to the private sector, create a network 
of academic institutions, aerospace contractors, and NASA centers that 
will commit to donating technical assistance to small businesses, and 
create a network of economic development organizations to increase the 
awareness and enhance the effectiveness of the program nationwide.
  My amendment would clarify that the NASA Outreach and Technology 
Assistance Program will include small, minority-owned, and women-owned 
businesses. It would also give preference, in the selection of 
businesses to participate in this program, to socially and economically 
disadvantaged small business concerns, small business concerns owned 
and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and HUBZone small business 
concerns.
  Small businesses represent more than the American dream--they 
represent the American economy. Small businesses account for 95 percent 
of all employers, create half of our gross domestic product, and 
provide three out of four new jobs in this country. Minority businesses 
are also crucial to our communities and our country. Black 
entrepreneurs owned 9.7 percent of all such businesses in the United 
States. Statistics gathered between 1997 and 2002 show substantial 
increases in the number of black-owned firms with receipts of $1 
million or more, as well as the number of black-owned firms with 100 
employees or more. Black-owned firms accounted for 5 percent of all 
non-farm business in the United States in 2002.
  In my home city of Houston, small businesses are vital to our 
economy. In 2002, Harris County ranked 6th in the nation for counties 
with the largest number of black-owned firms, with 27,770 firms with 
receipts totaling $1,817 million. I have worked to introduce minority, 
women, and small business owners to contracting officials at NASA to 
help promote and develop Houston small businesses.
  Madam Chairman, the NASA Office of Small Business Programs sets 
forth, as its mission, ``to promote and integrate all small businesses 
into the competitive base of contractors that pioneer the future of 
space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research.''

[[Page 12368]]

Today's legislation makes important strides toward working to realize 
this important goal, and I believe that my amendment would strengthen 
this objective. The legislation we are considering today reinforces the 
fundamental fact that the benefits of NASA's programming and innovation 
are felt far beyond scientific and academic spheres. Space technologies 
provide practical, tangible benefits to society, and NASA provides 
valuable opportunities to businesses in our community.
  My amendment would help to ensure that the important program 
authorized by this legislation to develop technical partnerships with 
private industry will be readily accessible to these vital, but 
disadvantaged, enterprises. I would like to thank Congressman Lampson 
for his support of my amendment. I ask that my amendment be ruled in 
order, and that my colleagues join me in working to bring the benefits 
of this important legislation to all members of our community.
  Madam Chairman, I would also like to thank my colleague Congressman 
Udall for introducing this important legislation. After the Columbia 
disaster, NASA stands at a pivotal moment in its history. It is the 
responsibility of this Congress to ensure that the future of NASA is 
one of continued progress. Space exploration remains a part of our 
national destiny. It inspires our children to look to the stars and 
dream of what they too, one day, may achieve. Space exploration allows 
us to push the bounds of our scientific knowledge, as we carry out 
research projects not possible within the constraints of the planet 
Earth.

         Support STEM Diversity Related Amendments to H.R. 6063


                              Diversity and Innovation Caucus,

                                                    June 11, 2008.
       Dear Colleague: We write to bring your attention to several 
     amendments that may be offered during consideration of H.R. 
     6063, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     Authorization Act of 2008. Amendments presented by 
     Representatives Hodes and Jackson-Lee are aimed at creating 
     greater diversity in the science, technology, engineering, 
     and math (STEM) workforce through opportunity and access. As 
     Co-chairs of the Diversity and Innovation Caucus, we have 
     worked to expand the participation of under-represented 
     groups in the STEM fields to help bolster U.S. 
     competitiveness. The amendments that will help us accomplish 
     this goal in H.R. 6063 include:
       Hodes (NH)--VOTE YES: Establishes a scholarship program in 
     honor of Christa McAulliffe, a teacher from Concord, New 
     Hampshire who died in the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle 
     disaster. The scholarship would go to women pursuing degrees 
     in mathematics, science, and engineering.
       Jackson-Lee (TX)--VOTE YES: Clarifies that the NASA 
     Outreach and Technology Assistance Program includes small, 
     minority-owned, and women-owned businesses. It would also 
     give preference, in selection for the program, to socially 
     and economically disadvantaged small business concerns, small 
     business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled 
     veterans, and HUBZone small business concerns.
       If America is to achieve its strategic objectives in STEM, 
     then the enormous potential of groups that are currently 
     under-represented in the STEM fields must be utilized. STEM 
     policies which encourage diversity help strengthen American 
     innovation and competitiveness by expanding the STEM 
     pipeline. We strongly urge you to support the amendments to 
     HR 6063 listed above.
       Thank you for our careful consideration of these important 
     amendments.

  I yield back my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  Mr. GORDON. Madam Chairman, I want to thank everyone for this 
constructive and civil debate that we've had today.
  I move that the Committee do now rise.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Ms. 
Jackson-Lee of Texas) having assumed the chair, Ms. Bordallo, Chairman 
of the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported 
that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 
6063) to authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution 
thereon.

                          ____________________