By: Jackson S.C.R. No. 6
(In the Senate - Filed May 11, 2004; May 12, 2004, read
first time and referred to Committee on Finance; May 14, 2004,
rereferred to Committee on Natural Resources; May 17, 2004,
reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 17, 2004, sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.C.R. No. 6 By: Armbrister
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 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 the Johnson Space Center; and
WHEREAS, The value of contracts with the Johnson Space
Center's major contractor companies is over $3 billion,
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 the Johnson Space Center; and
WHEREAS, The Johnson Space Center 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 the Johnson Space Center, 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, United States 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 to 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 United
States space program; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Texas and the House of
Representatives, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of
Texas hereby strongly encourages all members of the United States
Congress to fully fund the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration 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 leaders 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 of America, and to the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Administrator.
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