|
Memorandum:
Relevant Federal Legislation
July 9, 2008
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide you with information regarding pending federal legislation and policy of interest to the space enterprise community that has been introduced during the 110th session of Congress which began in January 2007 and will conclude in December 2008. A brief summary of the legislation, including current status, follows below. Please note that additional information regarding the legislation can be found online at http://thomas.loc.gov.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.Res. 252 - Rep. Zachary Space (Democrat, OH) introduced this resolution on March 15, 2007, to recognize the 45th anniversary of John Glenn's orbiting of the Earth. There are 11 co-sponsors, all of whom are members of the Ohio delegation. The resolution was marked up the House Committee on Science and Technology on March 28, 2007. For similar bill see Senate legislation, S.Res. 81, below.
H.R. 266 - Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat - Texas) introduced this legislation on January 5, 2007. The legislation would authorize the President to posthumously award a gold medal to the seven members of the crew of the space shuttle Columbia in recognition of their outstanding and enduring contributions to the Nation. There are no co-sponsors. The bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology on March 16, 2007.
H.R. 362 - 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Act - Rep. Bart Gordon (Democrat, TN) introduced this bill on January 10, 2007. The legislation would authorize scholarships for educating mathematics and science teachers. There are 32 co-sponsors, including California Reps. Mike Honda, Doris Matsui, Jerry McNerney, and Lynn Woolsey. The bill was passed by the House Committee on Science and Technology on April 23, 2007, and by the House of Representatives on April 24, 2007. The bill was referred to the Senate on April 25, 2007, and later incorporated into legislation that the President signed on August 9, 2007, and became Public Law 110-069.
H.R. 363 - Sowing Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act - Rep. Bart Gordon (Democrat, TN) introduced the legislation on January 10, 2007. The bill would authorize funding for basic research and research infrastructure in science and engineering as well as provide support for graduate fellowships. There are 18 co-sponsors, including California Reps. Mike Honda, Doris Matsui, and Jerry McNerney. The bill was passed by the House Committee on Science and Technology on April 18, 2007, and by the House of Representatives on April 24, 2007. The bill was referred to the Senate on April 25, 2007, and later incorporated into legislation that the President signed on August 9, 2007, which became Public Law 110-069.
H.Res. 421 - Tribute to Mercury 13 women astronauts - rep. Steve Kagen (Democrat, Wisconsin) introduced the bill on May 21, 2007. The legislation would honor the accomplishments of the "Mercury 13" women whose efforts in the early 1960's demonstrated the capabilities of American women to undertake the human exploration of space. There are 4 current co-sponsors, none of whom are from California. The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 6, 2007.
H.R. 807 - Columbia Space Shuttle Memorial Study Act - Rep. Louie Gohmert (Republican, TX) introduced the bill on February 5, 2007. The legislation would direct the Secretary of Interior to determine the feasibility and suitability of establishing a memorial to the Space Shuttle Columbia in the State of Texas and its inclusion as a unit of the National Park System. There are no co-sponsors. The legislation was passed by the House on March 5, 2007, and referred to the Senate on March 6, 2007. The Senate held a hearing on this bill on September 11, 2007.
H.R. 906 - Global Change Research and Data Management Act of 2007 - Rep. Mark Udall (Democrat, CO) introduced the bill on February 7, 2007. The legislation would promote and coordinate global change research. As of this date, there are 12 co-sponsors, including Rep. Tom Lantos. The legislation was marked up by the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment on June 27, 2007.
H.R. 1313 - Honors Dr. Sally Ride on the 15th anniversary of her becoming the first American woman in space. The bill was introduced by Rep. Nick Lampson (Democrat, Texas) and co-sponsored by Rep. Tom Feeney (Republican, Florida). The House passed the resolution on July 9, 2008.
H.R. 1315 - Commemorates 50th anniversary of NASA. The bill was introduced by Rep. Michael McCaul (Republican, Texas) and attracted 44 co-sponsors before it was passed by the House of Representatives on July 9, 2008.
H.R. 1332 - Small Business Lending Improvements Act - Rep. Melissa Bean (Democrat, IL) introduced the bill on March 6, 2007. The legislation would improve the access to capital programs of the Small Business Administration. There are 7 co-sponsors, including California Reps. Bob Filner and Linda Sanchez. The legislation was passed by the House of Representatives on April, 25, 2007, however, there is no companion bill in the Senate.
H.R. 1453 - Scientific Communications Act - Rep. Doris Matsui (Democrat, CA) introduced the bill on March 9, 2007). The legislation would provide for communications training of scientists. There are 6 co-sponsors, including Rep. Loretta Sanchez. The bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education on March 14, 2007.
H.R. 2272 - Rep. Bart Gordon (Democrat, TN) introduced the bill on May 10, 2007. The legislation would improve the competitiveness of the U.S. by investing in innovation through research and development. There are 21 current co-sponsors, including Reps. Mike Honda, Jerry McNerney and Lynn Woolsey (Democrats, CA). Related bills include H.R. 362, 363, 1068, 1867, H.R. 1868, and S. 761. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on May 21, 2007, and by the Senate on July 19, 2007. The President signed the bill on August 9, 2007, and it became Public Law 110-069.
H.R. 2285 - Spaceport Equality Act - Rep. Dave Weldon (Republican, FL) introduced the bill on May 10, 2007. The legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code to treat spaceports like airports under the exempt facility bond rules. There are no co-sponsors. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on May 10, 2007.
H.R. 2750 - NASA/JPL Commemorative Coin Act - Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (Democrat, TX) introduced the bill on June 15, 2007. The legislation would require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of NASA and JPL. There are 296 current co-sponsors of the legislation. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services on June 15, 2007, and was passed in the House on July 30, 2007. The bill was referred to the Senate on August, 3, 2007, but no further action has been taken.
H.R. 3093 - Commerce, Justice, State (and NASA) Appropriations for FY08 - The bill was introduced by Rep. Alan Mollohan (Democrat, WV) on July 19, 2007. The bill would provide funding for NASA, the Dept. of Commerce and other agencies. The bill was passed by the House on July 26, 2007, and referred to the Senate on July 30, 2007. The companion bill in the Senate is S. 1745. The substance of this bill was included in H.R. 2764, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, which was passed by Congress and signed by the President on December 26, 2007. It is now Public Law 110-161.
H.R. 3222 - Department of Defense Appropriations for FY 2008 - The bill was introduced by Rep. John Murtha (Democrat, PA) on July 30, 2007. The bill would provide funding for the Department of Defense and its agencies. The bill was passed by the House on August 5, 2007, and referred to the Senate on September 14, 2007. The Senate passed by bill on October 3, 2007. The conference version of the bill was passed by both houses of Congress on November 8, 2007. The President signed the bill on November 13, 2007, and it became Public Law 110-116.
H.R. 3245 - Redesignation of NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. The bill was introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) on July 31, 2007. The bill would redesignate this center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center and the Western Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range. As of this date, the bill has 42 co-sponsors. The bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics on August 24, 2007.
H.R. 4308 - Creation of Centennial Challenge sponsorship program at NASA. The bill was introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert (Republican, CA) on December 6, 2007. The bill would create a sponsorship program to help fund NASA's Centennial Challenges prize program as well as expand awareness of the agency's activities and technology needs. As of this date, there are four co-sponsors. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology on December 6, 2007.
H.R. 4837 - Space Shuttle Continuation. The bill was introduced by Rep. Dave Weldon (Republican, FL) on December 19, 2007. The bill would authorize funding to allow the space shuttle to fly from 2010 through 2015. As of this date, there are two co-sponsors. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology on
December 19, 2007.
H.R. 4916 - Creation of National Endowment. The bill was introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (Republican, CA) on December 19, 2007. The bill would create a national endowment to advance private sector development of aeronautics and space technologies through a National Advanced Space and Aeronautical Technologies Prize Award program. As of this date, there are no co-sponsors. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology on December 19, 2007.
H.R. 4917 - The bill was introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (Republican, CA) on December 19, 2007, to formulate situation and decision analyses and to select procedures and systems for deflecting and mitigating potentially hazardous near-Earth objects. As of this date, there are no co-sponsors. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology on December 19, 2007.
H.R. 5916 - Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Reform Act of 2008. The bill was introduced by Rep. Howard Berman (Democrat, CA), on April 29, 2008. The bill would reform the administration of the Arms Export Control Act, require adequate staff and resources, and provide special licensing authorization for certain exports to NATO member states. As of this date, there are 4 co-sponsors. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on May 19, 2008
H.R. 6063 - NASA Authorization Bill. The bill was introduced by Rep. Mark Udall (Democrat, CO) on May 15, 2008. The bill would authorize funding for NASA programs, prohibit NASA from further destruction of space shuttle equipment, and encourage innovation through prizes for aeronautics and space activities. The bill was marked up at subcommittee level on May 20, 2008, and at full committee level on June 4. The bill has bee forwarded to the Senate for its consideration.
H.R. 6104 - Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Act of 2008. The bill was introduced by Rep. Mike Honda (Democrat, CA) on May 21 and would create mechanisms for federal agencies and the states to coordinate STEM education strategies. As of this date, there are 39 co-sponsors of which 10 are members of the California delegation, including Rep. George Miller (Democrat, CA), chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Education. The bill was referred to two committees - Science and Technology as well as Education and Labor.
SENATE
S.Res. 81 - The resolution recognizes the 45th anniversary of John Glenn's historic achievement in becoming the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the Earth. Sen. Sherrod Brown (Democrat - OH) introduced the resolution on February 14, 2007. There is one co-sponsor, Sen. George Voinovich (Democrat - OH). The Senate passed the legislation on February 17, 2007. For similar bill see House legislation, H.Res. 252, above.
S. 761 - America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science Act - Sen. Harry Reid (Democrat, NV) introduced the bill on March 5, 2007. The legislation would invest in innovation and education in order to improve the competitiveness of the United States in the global economy. There are 69 co-sponsors, including Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (Democrats, CA). The bill was passed by the Senate on April 25, 2007, and signed by the President on August 9, 2007. The bill is now Public Law 110-069.
S. 1355 - Spaceport Equality Act. Sen. Mel Martinez (Democrat, FL) introduced the bill on May 10, 2007. The legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code to treat spaceports like airports under the exempt facility bond rules. There are 7 co-sponsors, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, CA). The bill was referred to the Committee on Finance on May 10, 2007.
S. 1745 - NASA Appropriations Bill (and several other agencies) - Sen. Barbara Mikulski (Democrat, MD) introduced the bill on June 29, 2007. The legislation would provide a total of $17.459 billion for NASA in FY 2008, an increase of $1.175 billion as compared to FY 2007. Of that total, $10.633 billion is to be spent on science, aeronautics and exploration. Science is funded at $5.655 billion, aeronautics at $554.03 million and exploration at $3.972 billion. The bill was marked up by the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 29, 2007, and is a companion bill to H.R. 3093. The substance of this bill was included in H.R. 2764, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2008, which was passed by Congress and signed by the President on December 26, 2007. It is now Public Law 110-161.
S. 3182 - NASA Appropriations Bill (and several other agencies) – Sen. Barbara Mikulski (Democrat, MD) introduced the bill on June 23, 2008. The legislation would provide a total of $17.8 billion for NASA, an increase of about $200 million as compared to the President’s budget request. The bill is pending consideration by the Senate.
Thomas Legislative Information.
Return to Federal Government Relations
Back to the top
|
