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By: Jackson S.C.R. No. 6
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Since its inception in 1958, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has accomplished many
great scientific and technological feats, in addition to advancing
humankind's knowledge of the Earth, and the universe; and
WHEREAS, Texas, primarily through the work done at the NASA
Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, has been a leader in the
research, design, exploration and development of space enterprise
since the dawn of the space age; and
WHEREAS, More than 3,000 civil servants with a total payroll
in excess of $260 million, and over 12,000 contractor employees
work at JSC; and
WHEREAS, the value of contracts with JSC's major contractor
companies is over $3 million, representing a significant economic
impact to both the state and local economies; and
WHEREAS, Thirty percent of NASA's $14 billion budget is spent
in Texas at JSC; and
WHEREAS, JSC has pioneered breakthroughs in space
exploration, specifically through the Space Shuttle and
International Space Station Programs, as well as Astronaut
selection and training; support of Extravehicular Activities;
Mission Operations, including the Mission Control Center;
engineering, biological and physical research; and the care of
astromaterials; and
WHEREAS, Texas colleges and universities receive over $10
million in NASA science and engineering grants and contracts; and
WHEREAS, NASA operates ambitious education outreach programs
across the state through JSC, including NASA Explorer Schools and
the Texas Aerospace Scholars Program; and
WHEREAS, the desire to explore is part of America's
character, and history has shown that space exploration benefits
all humankind through new technologies for everyday application,
new jobs across the entire economic enterprise, economic
contributions through new markets and commercial products,
education and inspiration, U.S. leadership, increased security,
and a legacy for future generations; and
WHEREAS, a Space Exploration Vision has recently been
articulated to affirm the United States' commitment to human space
exploration and give NASA a new focus and clear objectives,
including long-term human and robotic programs to explore the solar
system, and a return to the Moon that will ultimately enable future
exploration of Mars and other destinations; and
WHEREAS, the Space Exploration Vision begins with NASA
returning the Space Shuttle to safe flight, with the chief purpose
of completing assembly on the International Space Station, in
addition to developing a new Crew Exploration Vehicle to explore
beyond earth's orbit to other worlds, all of which are goals
uniquely suited for the expertise resident at the NASA Johnson
Space Center located in our state; and
WHEREAS, the Space Exploration Vision has the potential to
drive innovation, development, and advancement in the aerospace and
other high-technology industries across the nation, and in the
state of Texas; and
WHEREAS, the proposed budget request for NASA in fiscal year
2005 fully supports the Space Exploration Vision, aligns NASA
programs with the Vision goals, affirms the Nation's commitment to
space exploration, and provides a clear direction for the U.S.
space program; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives and Senate of the
State of Texas, jointly, that the Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby strongly encourages all members of the United States
Congress to fully fund NASA in the amount of $16.2 billion in
support of the Space Exploration Vision, as submitted to the
Congress for Fiscal Year 2005, to enable the United States, and the
state of Texas, to remain a leader in the exploration and
development of space; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas Secretary of State forward official
copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the
United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to
each Senator and Representative from Texas in the Congress of the
United States, and to the NASA Administrator.