[House Report 109-37]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



109th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                     109-37

======================================================================



 
              CHARLES ``PETE'' CONRAD ASTRONOMY AWARDS ACT

                                _______
                                

 April 12, 2005.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr.  Boehlert, from the Committee on Science, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1023]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Science, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 1023) to authorize the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration to establish an awards 
program in honor of Charles ``Pete'' Conrad, astronaut and 
space scientist, for recognizing the discoveries made by 
amateur astronomers of asteroids with near-Earth orbit 
trajectories, having considered the same, report favorably 
thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
   I. Purpose of the Bill.............................................2
  II. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................2
 III. Summary of Hearings.............................................2
  IV. Committee Actions...............................................4
   V. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill.........................4
  VI. Section-By-Section Analysis (By Title and Section)..............5
 VII. Committee Views.................................................5
VIII. Cost Estimate...................................................6
  IX. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate.......................6
   X. Compliance with Public Law 104-4 (Unfunded Mandates)............7
  XI. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations................7
 XII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives...........7
XIII. Constitutional Authority Statement..............................7
 XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement............................7
  XV. Congressional Accountability Act................................7
 XVI. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law..........7
XVII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, As Reported...........7
XVIII.Committee Recommendations.......................................7

 XIX. Proceedings of Full Committee Markup............................8

                         I. PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of the bill is to authorize the Administrator 
of the National Space and Aeronautics Administration (NASA) to 
establish an awards program to recognize the discoveries of 
near-Earth asteroids by amateur astronomers, named in honor of 
the astronaut and space scientist Charles ``Pete'' Conrad.

              II. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

    Monitoring and tracking near Earth asteroids is important 
to the advancement of the field of astronomy. Such activities 
also are important for identifying the potential threats to the 
Earth that these objects pose. Recent press accounts of 
asteroids passing close to the Earth have raised public 
awareness of the possibility that these objects could one day 
hit the Earth with potentially catastrophic consequences.
    Amateur astronomers play an important role in monitoring 
near-Earth asteroids. Professional astronomers consider this 
service to be crucial for predicting orbital paths of near-
Earth asteroids and detecting objects that deviate from their 
predicted orbits. The bill is designed to encourage amateur 
astronomers who track and monitor near-Earth asteroids.

                        III. SUMMARY OF HEARINGS

    The ``Charles `Pete' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act'' first 
was introduced by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher in the 107th 
Congress as H.R. 5303. On October 3, 2002, the Subcommittee on 
Space and Aeronautics conducted a hearing entitled ``The Threat 
of Near-Earth Asteroids,'' which examined the threat posed by 
near-Earth objects (NEOs) and discussed the need for H.R. 5303.
    The following witnesses testified at the hearing: Dr. 
Edward Weiler, National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) Associate Administrator for Space Science; Dr. David 
Morrison, Senior Scientist, NASA Ames Research Center; 
Brigadier General Simon ``Pete'' Worden, U.S. Air Force; Dr. 
Brian Marsden, Director, Minor Planet Center, Smithsonian 
Astrophysical Observatory; and Dr. Joseph Burns, Irving Porter 
Church Professor of Engineering and Astronomy, Cornell 
University.
    Dr. Ed Weiler testified on the progress of NASA's ground-
based survey for NEOs, intended to identify 90 percent of Near-
Earth asteroids larger than one kilometer in size by 2008. Dr. 
Weiler stated that there are estimated to be about 1,000 such 
asteroids, and that the six research groups currently funded by 
NASA to identify NEOs have together discovered over 600 objects 
and are ahead of the predicted schedule. Dr. Weiler believed it 
likely that the goal will be reached by 2008. Dr. Weiler said 
it was premature to decide whether to extend the survey goal to 
include objects smaller than one kilometer in size. Dr. Weiler 
stated that if such an extended survey effort were conducted 
from the ground, then NASA should not play a role because NASA 
is best suited to space-based missions. He stated that NASA's 
role is better suited for detailed study of particular 
asteroids and comets.
    Dr. Morrison testified on the threat to the Earth of 
collisions with asteroids and comets. He stated that the 
greatest risk today is not from objects large enough to cause 
global extinctions (such as those believed to have caused the 
extinction of the dinosaurs) but rather from objects large 
enough to disrupt the Earth's climate on a global scale by 
injecting large quantities of dust into the stratosphere. 
Objects of about one kilometer in size pose such a threat and 
thus are the target of the U.S. survey for NEOs. He stated that 
the next logical goal is to search for objects that are smaller 
but could still kill millions of people upon impact with the 
Earth. Even objects measuring only 200-300 meters in diameter 
should be tracked since these pose the greatest danger of 
causing tsunamis, he said. Dr. Morrison emphasized that the 
goal of the current survey is not to find objects on their 
final plunge toward Earth, but rather to identify objects in 
nearby orbits for future monitoring. Thus discovering an object 
that has already passed the Earth in its orbit is still 
considered a ``success.''
    Brig. General Worden testified that the U.S. military is 
developing sensitive surveillance technologies that could serve 
both defense and civilian interests. Such ``dual-use'' 
technology could contribute greatly to the detection of NEOs 
and would augment the current efforts of U.S. military 
telescopes used by NASA in NEO projects.
    Dr. Brian Marsden testified on the management of data 
reported daily to the Minor Planet Center of the Smithsonian 
Astrophysical Observatory regarding the observations of 
asteroids and comets. Dr. Marsden testified that the Minor 
Planet Center collects reports from around the world of 
detections of NEOs and other asteroids and comets and publishes 
confirmed detections electronically in the Minor Planet 
Electronic Circular. NEOs, he said, comprise less that one 
percent of the observations of asteroids as a whole. Dr. 
Marsden stated that augmentation of the Minor Planet Center 
staff is essential if the number of asteroid discoveries 
continues to increase, as would be expected with an extension 
of the NEO survey goals to include objects of smaller sizes. 
Dr. Marsden testified that most follow-up tracking observations 
of NEOs are made by amateur astronomers who would be encouraged 
in their activities by an award such as that created by the 
bill. Dr. Marsden testified that attention should also be given 
to long-period comets, which could pose an even greater risk 
than asteroids because they are less predictable.
    Dr. Joseph Burns testified on the recommendations regarding 
NEOs from the recent National Research Council report entitled 
``New Frontiers in the Solar System,'' resulting from the Solar 
System Exploration (SSE) Survey conducted with scientists 
nationwide. One of the primary recommendations from the report 
was that NASA and the National Science Foundation should 
contribute equally to the construction and operation of a 
Large-aperture Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), a 6.5-meter-
effective-diameter, very wide field ( 3 degree) telescope that 
would produce a digital map of the visible sky every week, at a 
total cost of $125 million. Dr. Burns stated that the LSST 
could locate 90 percent of all NEOs down to 300 meters in size, 
enable computations of their orbits, and permit assessment of 
their threat to Earth. Dr. Burns testified that NASA should 
continue to be involved in ground-based NEO surveys even if the 
survey goals were extended because of NASA's experience with 
ground-based telescopes and because NASA has always been 
charged with using ground-based telescopes that aid space-based 
missions.

                         IV. COMMITTEE ACTIONS

    The ``Charles `Pete' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act'' first 
was introduced by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher in the 107th 
Congress as H.R. 5303. On October 1, 2002, H.R. 5303 passed 
under suspension of the rules in the House of Representatives 
by voice vote.
    On February 25, 2003, Congressman Rohrabacher introduced 
H.R. 912, the ``Charles `Pete' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act,'' a 
bill to award amateur astronomers for their outstanding 
contributions to tracking and discovering near-Earth asteroids.
    On October 8, 2003, the Committee on Science Subcommittee 
on Space and Aeronautics met to consider the bill. The bill was 
adopted by a voice vote and forwarded to the Full Committee on 
Science.
    On February 4, 2004, the Committee on Science met to 
consider the bill. Mr. Rohrabacher offered an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute that clarified the bill's intent, 
changed the roles of NASA and the Smithsonian, reduced the 
number of award categories in the bill from three to two, made 
permanent residents eligible to receive the awards, and changed 
the authorization level to ``such sums'' from within ``sums 
otherwise authorized to NASA.'' The amendment was adopted by a 
voice vote.
    Mr. Gordon moved that the Committee favorably report the 
bill, H.R. 912, as amended, to the House with the 
recommendation that the bill as amended do pass, and that the 
staff be instructed to make technical and conforming changes to 
the bill as amended and prepare the legislative report and that 
the Chairman take all necessary steps to bring the bill before 
the House for consideration. With a quorum present, the motion 
was agreed to by a voice vote.
    On March 3, 2004, the House of Representatives considered 
H.R. 912 under suspension of the rules. On motion to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, as amended, H.R. 912 passed by a 
vote of 404 to 1.
    On March 1, 2005, Representative Rohrabacher introduced 
H.R. 1023, the ``Charles `Pete' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act'' 
in the 109th Congress.
    On March 17, 2005, the Committee on Science met to consider 
H.R. 1023. Mr. Gordon moved that the Committee favorably report 
the bill, H.R. 1023, as amended to the House with the 
recommendation that the bill do pass, and that the staff be 
instructed to make technical and conforming changes to the bill 
as amended and prepare the legislative report and that the 
Chairman take all necessary steps to bring the bill before the 
House for consideration. With a quorum present, the motion was 
agreed to by a voice vote.

               V. SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE BILL

    The bill, as reported, directs the NASA Administrator to 
establish an awards program in honor of Charles ``Pete'' 
Conrad, astronaut and space scientist, to recognize the 
discoveries made by amateur astronomers of near Earth 
asteroids.
    NASA is to make the awards based on the recommendations of 
the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Minor Planet 
Center, a nonprofit organization under the auspices of the 
International Astronomical Union, an association of 
professional astronomers.
    The bill authorizes the NASA Administrator to give one 
award each year to the amateur astronomer or to the group of 
amateur astronomers who in the preceding year discovered the 
intrinsically brightest near-Earth asteroid among the near-
Earth asteroids that were discovered during that preceding year 
by amateur astronomers or groups of amateur astronomers. The 
bill authorizes the Administrator to give another award to the 
amateur astronomer or group of amateur astronomers who made the 
greatest contribution during the preceding year to the Minor 
Planet Center's mission of cataloguing near-Earth asteroids. 
Recipients of monetary awards must be U.S. citizens or 
permanent residents. An award shall be in the amount of $3,000.

                    VI. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short Title

    This bill is to be cited as the ``Charles `Pete' Conrad 
Astronomy Awards Act.''

Section 2. Definitions

    This section defines several terms used throughout the 
bill, including ``amateur astronomer'' and ``near-Earth 
asteroid.''

Section 3. Pete Conrad Astronomy Award Program

    This section authorizes the NASA Administrator to establish 
the Charles ``Pete'' Conrad Astronomy Awards program (Program), 
make awards under the Program based on the recommendations of 
the Minor Planet Center, and make one award annually in each of 
two categories if eligible discoveries or contributions are 
made. The two award categories are as follows: (1) an award to 
the amateur astronomer or group of amateur astronomers who in 
the preceding calendar year discovered the intrinsically 
brightest near-Earth asteroid among the near-Earth asteroids 
that were discovered during that year by amateur astronomers or 
groups of amateur astronomers; and (2) the amateur astronomer 
or group of amateur astronomers who made the greatest 
contribution to the Minor Planet Center's mission of 
cataloguing near-Earth asteroids during the preceding year. 
Awards to recipients, limited to U.S. citizens or permanent 
residents, are in the amount of $3,000. The Administrator's 
decisions in making the awards are final. The bill authorizes 
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
the program.

                          VII. COMMITTEE VIEWS

    The Committee understands that amateur astronomers are 
primarily responsible for providing follow-up observations of 
known asteroids, and that discoveries of near Earth asteroids 
by amateurs are rare due to the dominance of professional 
surveys. The Committee expects NASA to carry out the Program in 
such a manner as best to promote amateur astronomy and to 
encourage amateur astronomers to continue their outstanding 
efforts to identify and monitor near-Earth objects.
    The Committee believes that the Smithsonian Astrophysical 
Observatory's Minor Planet Center is uniquely qualified to 
recommend award recipients. The Center is internationally 
recognized as a major clearinghouse for tracking near Earth 
orbits and for its extensive work with amateur astronomers. The 
Committee expects the NASA Administrator to make awards based 
on the recommendations of the Minor Planet Center.
    The Act provides that each award is $3,000, regardless of 
whether it is presented to an individual or a group.
    The Committee expects that if a group of astronomers 
selected for an award under this Act includes a foreign student 
(defined for the purposes of this paragraph as a non-immigrant 
student under title 8, United States Code, section 
1101(a)(15)(F) or a student with a ``J'' exchange visa) in 
addition to citizens or permanent residents of the United 
States, then the Administrator shall have the discretion to 
provide the foreign student with a non-monetary token of 
appreciation. The foreign student is not eligible to receive 
any part of the monetary award.
    The Committee expects that administrative costs will be 
minimal.

                          VIII. COST ESTIMATE

    A cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been timely submitted to 
the Committee on Science prior to the filing of this report and 
is included in Section X of this report pursuant to House rule 
XIII, clause 3(c)(3).
    H.R. 1023 does not contain new budget authority, credit 
authority, or changes in revenues or tax expenditures. Assuming 
that the sums authorized under the bill are appropriated, H.R. 
1023 does not authorize additional discretionary spending, as 
described in the Congressional Budget Office report on the 
bill, which is contained in Section X of this report.

             IX. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

                                                    March 30, 2005.
Hon. Sherwood L. Boehlert,
Chairman, Committee on Science,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1023, the Charles 
``Pete'' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mike Waters.
            Sincerely,
                                       Douglas Holtz-Eakin,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 1023--Charles ``Pete'' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act

    H.R. 1023 would establish two new annual awards for amateur 
astronomers: one for the individual or group that identifies 
the brightest near-Earth asteroid and the other for the 
individual or group that makes the greatest contribution to the 
catalog of such asteroids maintained by the Minor Planet Center 
of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Each award would 
be $3,000. The program would be administered by the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
    CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1023 would have no 
significant effect on the budget and would not affect direct 
spending or revenues. According to NASA, the cost of 
administering the two awards would be negligible.
    H.R. 1023 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mike Waters. 
This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                  X. COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

    H.R. 1023 contains no unfunded mandates.

          XI. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    The Committee on Science's oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

       XII. STATEMENT ON GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    Pursuant to clause (3)(c) of House rule XIII, the goals of 
H.R. 1023 are to establish an awards program for amateur 
astronomers to promote astronomy and to assist national efforts 
to identify near-Earth objects that could pose a threat to the 
Earth.

                XIII. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact H.R. 1023.

               XIV. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    H.R. 1023 does not establish or authorize the establishment 
of any advisory committee.

                  XV. CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

    The Committee finds that H.R. 1023 does not relate to the 
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services 
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of 
the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).

      XVI. STATEMENT ON PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

    This legislation is not intended to preempt any state, 
local, or tribal law.

      XVII. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    This legislation does not amend any existing Federal 
statute.

                    XVIII. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

    On March 17, 2005, a quorum being present, the Committee on 
Science favorably reported H.R. 1023, the Charles ``Pete'' 
Conrad Astronomy Awards Act, by a voice vote, and recommended 
its enactment.



  XIX. PROCEEDINGS OF THE FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP ON H.R. 1023, CHARLES 
                  ``PETE'' CONRAD ASTRONOMY AWARDS ACT

                              ----------                              


                        THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2005

                  House of Representatives,
                                      Committee on Science,
                                                    Washington, DC.

    The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:05 a.m., in Room 
2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Sherwood L. 
Boehlert [Chairman of the Committee] presiding.
    Chairman Boehlert. The Science Committee will come to 
order.
    Pursuant to notice, the Committee on Science meets to 
consider the following measures: H.R. 1023, Charles ``Pete'' 
Conrad Astronomy Awards Act; H.R. 1158, To reauthorize the 
Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology 
Competitiveness Act of 1988; H.R. 28, High-Performance 
Computing Revitalization Act of 2005; H.R. 1215, the Green 
Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2005, and how 
appropriate that we entertain this on St. Patrick's Day; 
H.Con.Res. 96, Recognizing the significance of African American 
women in the United States scientific community; and H.R. 798, 
Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2005.
    Before we proceed with the markup, however, the Committee 
must first dispense with some administrative business.
    I recognize Mr. Gordon to offer a request regarding 
Democratic Subcommittee membership.
    Mr. Gordon.
    Mr. Gordon. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    By direction of the Democratic caucus of the Science 
Committee, I ask unanimous consent to ratify the election of 
Representative Brad Miller of North Carolina to the 
Subcommittee on Research, thereby filling one of the existing 
Democratic vacancies.
    Chairman Boehlert. Without objection, so ordered.
    I ask unanimous consent for the authority to recess the 
Committee at any point during consideration of these matters, 
and without objection, it is so ordered.
    That concludes the Committee's organizational business, and 
we will now proceed with the markup beginning with opening 
statements. And I shall begin with mine.
    I want to welcome everyone here for our St. Patrick's Day 
markup. I hope that the markup will leave everyone seeing 
green, not because we are spending lots of money, but because 
we are environmentally-friendly and because others should be 
green with envy over the ability of this committee to move 
sensible, bipartisan legislation.
    The bills before us today deal with a wide variety of 
critical problems, including the need to improve our energy 
efficiency, the need to improve our technological 
competitiveness, the need to improve our environment, the need 
to protect our citizens from the impacts of drug abuse, the 
need to have a more diverse scientific workforce, and the need 
to increase interest in science among the general public.
    All of these bills have broad support. Four of them passed 
the House last year: the Charles ``Pete'' Conrad Astronomy 
Awards, the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and 
Technology Competitiveness Act, the High-Performance Computing 
Revitalization Act, and the Green Chemistry Research and 
Development Act. The Senate ran out of time to take up these 
bills. They were still pending without prejudice when the clock 
ran out, and we are optimistic about moving them through the 
entire process in this Congress.
    The other two items before us should also move swiftly: the 
resolution recognizing African American women in science, and 
the Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act, which we held a 
very productive hearing on earlier this month.
    I want to move this markup along, so let me just close by 
thanking all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, who 
introduced and contributed to these important bills.
    Mr. Gordon.
    [The prepared statement of Chairman Boehlert follows:]
            Prepared Statement of Chairman Sherwood Boehlert
    I want to welcome everyone here for our St. Patrick's Day markup. I 
hope that the markup will leave everyone seeing green--not because 
we're spending lots of money, but because we're environmentally 
friendly and because others should be green with envy over the ability 
of this committee to move sensible, bipartisan legislation.
    The bills before us today deal with a wide variety of critical 
problems, including the need to improve our energy efficiency, the need 
to improve our technological competitiveness, the need to improve our 
environment, the need to protect our citizens from the impacts of drug 
abuse, the need to have a more diverse scientific workforce, and the 
need to increase interest in science among the general public.
    All these bills have broad support. Four of them passed the House 
last year--the Pete Conrad Astronomy Awards, the Steel and Aluminum 
energy Conservation Act, the High Performance Computing Revitalization 
Act, and the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act. The Senate 
ran out of time to take these bills up--they were still pending without 
prejudice when the clock ran out--and we're optimistic about moving 
them through the entire process this Congress.
    The other two items before us should also move swiftly, the 
resolution recognizing African American women in science, and the 
Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act, which we held a hearing on 
earlier this month.
    I want to move this markup along, so let me just close by thanking 
all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who introduced and 
contributed to these important bills. Mr. Gordon.

    Mr. Gordon. Mr. Chairman, in keeping with the date, you 
seem to have brought your blarney with you, and I wish to 
compliment you for this--for the efforts to revisit our 
unfinished legislative agenda from the past Congress and for 
your willingness to explore some new legislative areas.
    I am especially pleased that Mr. Calvert and my 
Methamphetamine Remediation Act is getting the rapid 
consideration it deserves. We thank you and over 1/3 of our 
committee's membership for signing on as co-sponsors. The 
methamphetamine epidemic is a scourge on rural America, 
affecting many of our Congressional Districts that must be 
addressed. And I will explain more about the importance of this 
bill later in the markup.
    Our committee's legislative environment in high-performance 
computing goes back at least 20 years. The bipartisan High-
Performance Computing Act of 1991 that today's bill amends was 
instrumental in getting the various departments of the 
Executive Branch working together to apply the power of 
supercomputers to our society's major challenges. And we have 
been working together on today's amendments to the High-
Performance Computing Act for really two Congresses now. We on 
the Democratic side are very supportive of this important 
legislation.
    We will consider another important resolution by 
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, recognizing the 
significant contributions that African American women have made 
to science. Given our need to encourage young men and women of 
all races to enter into the science and technology fields, I 
compliment Congresswoman Johnson for her advocacy of this 
resolution.
    And our former Committee colleague, Doug Walgren, 
introduced the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and 
Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988 at that time when the 
steel industry in the United States was experiencing hard time 
and high energy costs and consumption. The program established 
under this act has led a steel industry technology roadmap and 
10 cost-sharing projects that have permitted the industry to 
modernize and to better meet the new higher-weight products 
needed--or lighter-weight products needed by the auto industry 
and other industry customers. We on the Democratic side are 
supportive of the effort of Congresswoman Hart and our new 
Member, Congressman Lipinski, to reauthorize this important 
program.
    The Green Chemist Research and Development Act is also an 
important act today, and it is an improved over last 
introduction. We are pleased it incorporates several Democratic 
amendments offered during the last consideration. However, the 
bill still does not do all we should be doing moving into--
moving in the right direction for green chemistry practices, 
and I think we will see some amendments this morning that would 
improve that bill.
    Therefore, I will yield the balance of my time and look 
forward to moving forward today.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Gordon follows:]

            Prepared Statement of Representative Bart Gordon

    I wish to compliment Mr. Boehlert for his efforts to revisit our 
unfinished legislative agenda from the past Congress and for his 
willingness to explore new legislative areas.
    I am especially pleased that Mr. Calvert's and my Methamphetamine 
Remediation Research Act of 2005 is getting the rapid consideration it 
deserves. We thank you and over a third of our committee's membership 
for signing on as co-sponsors.
    The methamphetamine epidemic is a scourge on rural America, 
affecting many of our Congressional districts, that must be addressed. 
I will explain more about the importance of this bill later in the 
markup.
    Our committee's legislative involvement in high-performance 
computing goes back at least 20 years. The bipartisan High-Performance 
Computing Act of 1991 that today's bill amends was instrumental in 
getting the various Departments of the Executive Branch working 
together to apply the power of supercomputers to our society's major 
challenges.
    We have been working together on today's amendments to the High-
Performance Computing Act for two Congresses now. We on the Democratic 
side are very supportive of this important legislation.
    We will consider an important resolution by Congresswoman Eddie 
Bernice Johnson recognizing the significant contributions that African 
American Women have made to science. Given our need to encourage 
American young men and women of all races to enter into scientific and 
technical fields, I compliment Congresswoman Johnson on her advocacy of 
this resolution.
    Our former committee colleague Doug Walgren introduced the Steel 
and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 
1988 at a time when the steel industry in the United States was 
experiencing hard times and high energy costs and consumption.
    The program established under this Act has led a steel industry 
technology roadmap and ten cost-shared projects that have permitted the 
industry to modernize and to better meet the new lighter weight 
products needed by the auto industry and other industry customers. We 
on the Democratic side are supportive of the efforts of Congresswoman 
Hart and our new Member, Congressman Lipinski to reauthorize this 
important program.
    The Green Chemistry Research and Development Act, H.R. 1215, is 
improved over its last introduction.
    We are pleased that it incorporates several Democratic amendments 
offered during its last consideration, including my amendment to 
establish a grant program to enable colleges and universities to update 
their curricula to include training in green chemistry. However, the 
bill still does not do all we should be doing to move green chemistry 
practices from the laboratory bench into everyday practice. Therefore, 
we will be offering several amendments today to further improve this 
legislation.

    Chairman Boehlert. Thank you very much, Mr. Gordon.
    Without objection, Members may place statements in the 
record at this point.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Costello follows:]

         Prepared Statement of Representative Jerry F. Costello

    Good morning. Today, the House Science Committee is considering six 
bills for markup. Most are non-controversial and receive wide 
bipartisan support.
    First, I would like to thank Chairman Boehlert, Ranking Member 
Gordon, and Representative Calvert for introducing H.R. 798, the 
Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2005. As a proud co-sponsor 
of H.R. 798, I am pleased the legislation has moved quickly through the 
Science Committee and am hopeful it will come to the House Floor soon.
    This legislation is urgently needed because methamphetamine abuse 
and addiction continues to grow throughout the United States. In my 
home State of Illinois, methamphetamine use has significantly increased 
in the last few years. Alarmingly, almost 10 percent of the meth labs 
seized by law enforcement officials in 2004 were in Illinois. Clearly, 
methamphetamine abuse is a very serious problem in my congressional 
district and I strongly support Ranking Member Gordon's bill because it 
establishes a federal research program that would develop voluntary 
standards to help states deal with the challenges associated with 
methamphetamine abuse. I worked closely with the State and local law 
enforcement officials in my district to secure funding in 2003 and 2004 
for a grant program in Southern Illinois to train approximately 100 law 
enforcement officials across the region in dismantling and cleaning up 
meth labs. In addition, Drug Task Forces were formed in Southern 
Illinois to fight against the methamphetamine problem that has reached 
epidemic proportions. We cannot allow the methamphetamine problem to 
overwhelm law enforcement officials and it is critical we implement a 
strategy to help our communities respond.
    Secondly, I would like to thank the Chairman for agreeing to markup 
H.R. 1158, a bill To reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy 
Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1998. As a Member of 
the Congressional Steel Caucus, I am pleased this committee is taking 
an active role to keep the steel industry competitive in today's global 
marketplace. Many are aware that the steel industry suffered a major 
crisis a few years back, which caused four steel companies in Illinois 
to file for bankruptcy, including Laclede Steel and the parent company 
for Granite City Steel, which are in my district. More than 5,000 steel 
workers have lost their jobs in Illinois alone. Therefore, I urge my 
colleagues to support H.R. 1158 to reauthorize important funding 
measures to improve the health of the domestic steel industry.
    Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the Committee for all their hard work 
on these important issues and look forward to today's proceedings.

    We will now consider H.R. 1023, Charles ``Pete'' Conrad 
Astronomy Awards Act. I yield my time for remarks to the bill's 
sponsor, Mr. Rohrabacher, to discuss his bill.
    Mr. Rohrabacher.
    Mr. Rohrabacher. Well, thank you very much. And I am very 
happy that we are remembering St. Patrick's Day today. And I 
am--as many people know that I am a writer by profession and 
not a lawyer, and I have always really looked to the 
contributions of the Irish. And in terms of their contribution 
to the language, for example, I understand that the word 
``chaos'' derives from an ancient Gaelic expression meaning 
``running out of beer.'' And I will leave that one with all of 
you for my contribution for today.
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am very pleased that we are 
considering this piece of legislation so early on, and it was 
sad that we didn't get it through in the Senate the last time 
around, but I think that if we work on it now, that the 
``Pete'' Conrad bill will not only be passed through the House, 
but go on and be passed through the Senate, because it is a 
fine piece of legislation, even if I do say so myself. It--what 
we are basically trying to do here is encourage young people to 
get involved in astronomy, and actually getting involved in the 
sciences and through--and the idea of getting involved in space 
programs at an early age. And we are offering awards to 
amateurs, two $3,000 awards to amateurs, one who discovers the 
brightest near-Earth object, and number two, the amateur who 
makes the greatest contribution to the cataloging of near-Earth 
objects for each year. These awards will be granted by the 
Smithsonian Institute. And again, it is aimed at young people. 
And what a better way to get kids enthralled with the potential 
of space and the magnificence of the--what God has given us in 
the universe--than to offer awards to get them looking up into 
the skies?
    It is named after ``Pete'' Conrad, who was a constituent of 
mine, the third man on the Moon, a great space entrepreneur and 
pioneer who died just a few years ago in a motorcycle accident, 
and that was a very tragic thing. So I would hope, and since we 
had bipartisan support all of the way on this the last time 
around, and I thank you for bringing this up so early in this 
term.
    Chairman Boehlert. Thank you very much.
    Mr. Gordon.
    Mr. Gordon. Mr. Chairman, let me just briefly say this is a 
good piece of legislation, and I want to compliment Dana 
Rohrabacher for his long-time advocacy in pushing this to the 
forefront. You have done a good job, Dana.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Gordon follows:]

            Prepared Statement of Representative Bart Gordon

    Mr. Chairman, I want to speak in support of Mr. Rohrabacher's bill.
    It is a thoughtful measure that establishes an awards program to 
encourage efforts by amateur astronomers to detect and catalog near-
Earth orbit asteroids.
    There has been a long, bipartisan tradition in this committee of 
supporting efforts to better understand both the threats and 
opportunities posed by asteroids and comets that pass close to the 
Earth.
    The substance of this bill was already approved by this committee 
in a previous Congress and is non-controversial.
    I want to compliment my good friend Dana on his initiative in this 
area, and I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 1023.
    I yield back the balance of my time.

    Chairman Boehlert. Thank you very much.
    I ask unanimous consent that the bill is considered as read 
and open to amendment at any point. Without objection, so 
ordered.
    Are there any amendments? Hearing none, the vote is on the 
bill H.R. 1023, Charles ``Pete'' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act. 
All of those in favor say aye. All of those opposed, no. In the 
opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it.
    I recognize Mr. Gordon to offer a motion.
    Mr. Gordon. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee 
favorably report H.R. 1023 to the House with the recommendation 
that the bill be passed. Furthermore, I move the staff be 
instructed to prepare the legislative report and make necessary 
technical and conforming changes, that the Chairman take all 
necessary steps for bringing the bill before the House for 
consideration.
    Chairman Boehlert. The question is on the motion to report 
the bill favorably. Those in favor of the motion will signify 
by saying aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it, and the bill is 
favorably reported.
    Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon 
the table. I move that Members have two subsequent calendar 
days in which to submit supplemental Minority or additional 
views on the measure. I move pursuant to Clause 1 of Rule 22 of 
the Rules of the House of Representatives that the Committee 
authorizes the Chairman to offer such motions as may be 
necessary in the House to adopt and pass H.R. 1023, Charles 
``Pete'' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act. Without objection, so 
ordered.
    We don't have to come back after votes. This is it. We are 
going to take up the Green Chemistry bill, which is going to 
require a little more time right after the recess.
    Thank you all very much for arriving. I want to thank you 
for participating.
    This concludes our Committee markup.
    [Whereupon, at 11:10 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]


                               Appendix:

                              ----------                              


                 H.R. 1023, Section-by-Section Analysis




               Section-by-Section Analysis of H.R. 1023,
               Charles `Pete' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act

Summary

    This bill authorizes the NASA Administrator to establish an awards 
program in honor of Charles `Pete' Conrad, astronaut and space 
scientist, for recognizing the discoveries made by amateur astronomers 
of asteroids with near-Earth orbit trajectories. The bill authorizes to 
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the act from 
sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated.

Section 1. Short Title.

Section 2. Definitions.

Section 3. Pete Conrad Astronomy Award Program.

    This section authorizes the NASA Administrator to establish the 
Charles `Pete' Conrad Astronomy Awards program based on the 
recommendations of the Minor Planet Center of the Smithsonian Astro-
physical Observatory.
    The Act establishes awards for the following individuals: a) an 
amateur astronomer, or group of amateur astronomers who discovers the 
intrinsically brightest new asteroid having a near-Earth orbit in the 
previous calendar year; b) an amateur astronomer, or group of amateur 
astronomers who provide the greatest service to update the Minor Planet 
Center's catalogue of known near-Earth asteroids in the preceding year. 
The awards for both categories are limited to U.S. citizens.
    The Act requires that applicants demonstrate that they are not 
funded to use professional telescopes or observations while 
participating in the program. Government and professional astronomers 
associated with surveys of NEOs, as well as their family members, are 
ineligible for the awards.
    The Act authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary 
to carry out the act from sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated.

                                  
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