By: Jackson H.R. No. 239 73R4373 SRD-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Space Station Freedom program will provide a 1-2 research facility in space for materials science, biotechnology, 1-3 and fundamental sciences, as well as life sciences research in 1-4 operation medicine and life support system development; and 1-5 WHEREAS, America must improve its competitive advantage in 1-6 the global economy by having a strong program of education in the 1-7 fields of science and math; and 1-8 WHEREAS, America needs to stimulate interest in the pure 1-9 sciences to improve its education system, and Space Station Freedom 1-10 will inspire young Americans to excel by illustrating future 1-11 opportunities; and 1-12 WHEREAS, The Space Station Freedom program is the largest 1-13 international venture in science and technology ever undertaken, 1-14 with 15 countries (13 in the European Space Agency plus Japan and 1-15 Canada) having already contributed over $1 billion with commitments 1-16 to spend over $7 billion in the development program through a 1-17 signed treaty agreement; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The Space Station Freedom program currently employs 1-19 30,000 people directly and 75,000 to 100,000 people indirectly and 1-20 involves 2,000 businesses in 30 states and the District of 1-21 Columbia; and 1-22 WHEREAS, The aerospace industry is one of America's most 1-23 competitive and vibrant industries, accounting for over 10 percent 1-24 of all United States exports, and the industry continually 2-1 maintains a trade surplus in a highly competitive market; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Some members of the Congress of the United States 2-3 are unwisely considering eliminating funding for the Space Station 2-4 Freedom program; now, therefore, be it 2-5 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 2-6 Legislature hereby express its support for continued funding of the 2-7 Space Station Freedom program; and, be it further 2-8 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-9 prepared for the Texas delegation of the Congress of the United 2-10 States.