[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:
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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.