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Memorandum:
Relevant Federal Legislation
June 30, 2005
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide you with information regarding relevant federal legislation introduced and pending during the 109th session of Congress which began in January 2005 and will end in December 2006. The information in this memo includes a brief summary of the legislation, the date of its introduction, its original sponsor, co-sponsors and disposition. Additional details regarding the legislation can be found online at http://thomas.loc.gov.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.R. 50 – NOAA Authorization Act – Would provide organic act for NOAA and create Deputy Assist Secretary for Science and Technology as well as Chief Operating Officer. Introduced by Rep. Vern Ehlers (Michigan) on January 4, 2005. As of this date, there is one co-sponsor: Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (New York). The bill was considered and passed by the House Science Committee on May 17, 2005.
H.R. 226 – Higher Education Science and Technology Competitiveness Act – Would strengthen and expand scientific and technological education capabilities of colleges that grant associate degrees through the establishment of partnerships with institutions that grant bachelor degrees. Introduced by Rep. John Sweeney (New York) on January 4, 2005. As of this date, there are 9 co-sponsors, none of whom are from California. The bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
H.R. 426 – Remote Sensing Applications Act – Would promote cooperation between government and industry by encouraging government to make use of commercial data sets. Introduced by Rep. Mark Udall (Colorado) on January 26, 2005. As of this date, there is one co-sponsor: Rep. James Walsh (New York). The bill was considered and passed by the House Science Committee on May 17, 2005.
H.R. 656 – Commercial Space Launch Act – Would enhance the safety of the commercial human space flight industry. Introduced by Rep. James Oberstar (Minnesota) on February 8, 2005. As of this date, there are no co-sponsors. The bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.
H.R. 785 – Interagency Aerospace Revitalization Task Force Act – Would establish an interagency aerospace revitalization task force to develop a national strategy for recruitment, training, and cultivation of aerospace workforce. Introduced by Rep. Vernon Ehlers (Michigan) on February 10, 2005. As of this date, there are four co-sponsors including Rep. Ellen Tauscher (California). The bill has been referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
H.R. 1021 – Space and Aeronautics Prize Act – Would provide prize program to encourage development of space and aeronautics technologies and establish an endowment to further educate and inspire public’s interest in space and aeronautics. Introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (California) on March 1, 2005. As of this date, there are no co-sponsors. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Science.
H.R. 1022 – George E. Brown Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey Act – Would provide for a Near-Earth Object survey program to detect, track, catalogue, and characterize certain near-earth asteroids and comets. Introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (California) on March 1, 2005. As of this date, there are two co-sponsors: Reps. Jerrold Nadler (New York) and Anthony Weiner (New York). The bill was considered and passed by the House Science Committee on May 17, 2005.
H.R. 1024 – Zero Gravity, Zero Tax Act of 2005 – Would provide tax incentives for investing in companies involved in space-related activities. Introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (California) on March 1, 2005. As of this date, there are four co-sponsors, including two members of the California Congressional delegation – Rep. Jane Harman and Rep. Ken Calvert. The bill has been referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
H.R. 2358 – Aeronautics Research and Development Revitalization Act of 2005 – Would restore aeronautics funding at NASA to a level of $1.057 billion, establish a national policy for aeronautics, and identify breakthrough research and development initiatives. Introduced by Rep. Mark Udall (Colorado) on May 12, 2005. As of this date, there are five co-sponsors. The bill has been referred to the Science Committee.
H.R. 2364 – Science and Technology Scholarship Program Act – Would award scholarships to recruit and prepare students for careers in NOAA and National Weather Service programs. Introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (California) on May 16, 2005. As of this date, there are no co-sponsors. The bill was considered and passed by the House Science Committee on May 17, 2005.
H.R. 2862 – Science/State/Justice/Commerce (NASA Appropriations) – Would fund NASA at a level of $16.5 billion, including $3.1 billion for space exploration and $906 million for aeronautics. Directs President to develop a national aeronautics policy. Approved by Subcommittee on May 24, 2005, and Full Committee on June 7, 2005.
H.R. 3039 – National and Commercial Space Programs – Would enact Title 51, United States Code. Introduced by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (Wisconsin) on June 22, 2005. As of this date, there is one co-sponsor. Bill referred to Judiciary Committee.
H.R. 3070 – NASA Authorization Act of 2006 – Authorizes $16.45 billion for NASA activities, including space exploration. Bill calls for return of U.S. to the Moon by 2020, retires the space shuttle in 2010 and recommends launching the Crew Exploration Vehicle as close to 2010 as possible. In addition, the bill requires the development of a national aeronautics policy and plans for a human mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. Bill passed by House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee on June 29, 2005. Full-committee mark up scheduled for week of July 11, 2005.
SENATE
S.242 – Columbia Space Shuttle Memorials Act of 2005 – Would establish four memorials for Space Shuttle Columbia at sites with the state of Texas on which Columbia debris was located. Introduced by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) on February 1, 2005. As of this date, there is one co-sponsor, Sen. John Cornyn (Texas). The bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Justice and Science.
S.1281 – NASA Authorization Act of 2006 – Authorizes $16.5 billion for NASA activities and supports NASA’s space exploration initiative. Prohibits NASA from retiring the space shuttle until a replacement crewed launch vehicle is ready. Bill passed by Subcommittee on June 23, 2005.
Thomas Legislative Information.
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