California Space Week Washington DC 2006

CSA and 47 of its members educated federal public officials on six vital space policy issues March 28 through 30 during the 8th annual California Space Week in Washington, D.C. The week included meetings in all 54 California Congressional offices on March 28 and 29 as well as presentations by executive branch officials and Congressional committee staff on March 30. 

The six issues discussed during the Congressional meetings were: (1) the Economic Impact of NASA on California's economy, (2) Streamlining Export Licenses at the U.S. State Department, (3) Space-Related Education and Workforce Issues, (4) Satellite Applications to Homeland Security Problems, (5) National Security Space Programs and (6) Space-Related Taxation. 

Members of three organizations joined Space Week for the first time - the Antelope Valley Board of Trade, the SETI Institute and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA).  Space Week sponsors included USRA and Wyle Laboratories.

Two highlights of the week included a luncheon address by Rep. Buck McKeon, the new Chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, on March 28 and

a Capitol Hill reception on March 29.  The Capitol Hill reception included exhibits regarding NASA's Centennial Challenge program, the California Space Center, and the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) program.

Katie Whelan from the office of the Governor welcomed the group at the Hall of States on March 30.  Then federal executive branch officials representing the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy (Damon Wells), the State Department (Stephen Tomchik), the Air Force (Lt. Gen. Stephen Wood), FAA (Kenneth Wong), and NASA (Scott Horowitz) made individual presentations.  Presentations were also made that day by David Goldston, Chief of Staff, House Science Committee, and Jeff Bingham, Staff Director, Senate Subcommittee on Space and Science.

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