SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 266

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is honored to recognize the impact the aerospace industry has had on the State of Texas; and

WHEREAS, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Johnson Space Center and the Texas aerospace community directly employ over 18,000 people, had nearly $5.3 billion in procurement obligations in the 2010 fiscal year, and have 85 large businesses performing about $3.6 billion of work in Texas; they have also provided nearly $119 million to small businesses, undertaken obligations of nearly $14.2 million in grants and agreements with Texas universities, and contracted almost $70.4 million with women-owned businesses, $10.3 million with Texas veteran-owned businesses, and $14.5 million with nonprofit organizations in Texas; and

WHEREAS, The Texas aerospace community is the leader in America's human space exploration program; it currently flies the space shuttle, which will be retired later this year, it completed the assembly of and continues to operate the International Space Station, and it has an active role in developing the Orion multipurpose crew vehicle that will be used on America's next launch vehicle; and

WHEREAS, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's technological achievements benefit our nation's security, safety, communications, health care, and other major industries and permeate all of Texas, enhancing the state's economic development goals and technology transfer and creating a highly skilled workforce; and

WHEREAS, Through national efforts led by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, Congress overwhelmingly passed the 2010 NASA Authorization Act, which was signed into law by the president, charting a pathway for future space exploration that provides for three shuttle flights in 2011, keeps the International Space Station flying through at least 2020, encourages development of commercial space systems, approves development of a Space Launch System that leverages investments made in the Ares launch systems, and continues development of a multipurpose crew vehicle using the Orion project's human safety features, designs, and systems; and

WHEREAS, Our nation's human space exploration program is essential to America's global leadership, technological innovation, economic competitiveness, and jobs, and it ensures the safety of our Texas astronauts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby recognize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for its leadership and accomplishments in the State of Texas; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the agency as an expression of highest regard from the Texas Senate.

Jackson

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 15, 2011.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate