[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 85 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 85
Expressing support for the CubeSat Launch Initiative and recognizing
the launch of WeissSat-1.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 24, 2020
Mr. Mast (for himself, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Posey, Mr. Crist, Mr.
Bilirakis, Mr. Soto, Mrs. Demings, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Yoho, Mr. Webster of
Florida, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) submitted
the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the CubeSat Launch Initiative and recognizing
the launch of WeissSat-1.
Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) established the
CubeSat Launch Initiative in 2008 to provide access to space for small
satellites (``CubeSats'') developed by the NASA Centers and programs,
educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations;
Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative gives CubeSat developers access to a low-
cost pathway to conduct research in the areas of science, exploration,
technology development, education, and operations;
Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative advances NASA's strategic goals and
objectives;
Whereas CubeSat research is essential for military, educational, technological,
and medical advancements;
Whereas increased citizen access to space benefits the United States, both
societally and economically;
Whereas students, educators, researchers, and companies gain knowledge and
experience from conducting CubeSat missions;
Whereas the Wolverine CubeSat Development Team at The Weiss School, a
prekindergarten through 8th grade school in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida,
designed the ``WeissSat-1'' that was selected by NASA's CubeSat Launch
Initiative in 2017;
Whereas the ``WeissSat-1'' was successfully launched December 3, 2018, from
Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard a Falcon-9;
Whereas the Wolverine CubeSat Development Team was selected again by NASA for
the CapSat-1 mission in the 10th Round of the CubeSat Launch Initiative;
Whereas The Weiss School's debate team discovered limiting factors to broader
participation and societal benefit of the CubeSat Launch Initiative and
brought that research to the attention of Congress;
Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative in fiscal year 2019 received $3,440,000 in
contributions from the NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission
Directorate, Science Mission Directorate, Space Technology Mission
Directorate, and the Office of Education;
Whereas Congress recognizes that NASA reorganized the Office of Education into
the NASA STEM Engagement program in order to streamline and maximize the
STEM-related activities and services it can offer within allocated
fiscal resources;
Whereas in NASA's fiscal year 2020 budget, NASA requested no funding ``for Space
Grant, Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR),
and Minority Universe Research and Education Project (MUREP)'' and
proposed ``to use unobligated balances previously appropriated to
support the termination of these activities, including but not limited
to, ongoing administration, oversight, monitoring, and funding of grants
previously awarded by the Office of STEM Engagement'';
Whereas the Congress passed an appropriations Act, which became Public Law 116-
93, funding the NASA STEM Engagement program at $120,000,000;
Whereas House Report 116-101 states ``The Committee expects NASA to continue
implementing the programs below and to ensure that overhead costs to
support these programs do not exceed five percent. Further, the
Committee directs NASA to include an adequately requested funding amount
for STEM in the fiscal year 2021 budget request and future requests.'';
Whereas Senate Report 116-127 states ``The Committee is supportive of NASA's
STEM engagement efforts that provide hands-on learning experiences for
middle, high school, and college students, including space launch
activities, and therefore rejects the proposed cancellation of education
programs. These types of programs allow students to experience the full
range of STEM-related skills involved in designing, testing, and
launching vehicles and designing payloads to deepen their interest in
science and engineering fields.'';
Whereas Congress recognizes that it is a critical moment for American educators,
students, and STEM innovators, through their elected Representatives and
Senators, to identify the critical necessity for NASA's STEM Engagement
programs that must be preserved and expanded;
Whereas the ultimate validation of this program is when CubeSats are launched
and operating in space;
Whereas a limiting factor of getting CubeSats into space is lack of program
awareness;
Whereas more awareness leads to the utilization of a low-cost pathway to conduct
scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space;
Whereas the Wolverine CubeSat Development Team and the CubeSat Launch Initiative
have shown that younger students can be successful in authentic hands-on
aerospace projects;
Whereas many students dream of space exploration and have interest in STEM
careers; and
Whereas without access to and awareness of available programs such as the
CubeSat Launch Initiative, those dreams may be unrealized: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This concurrent resolution may be cited as the ``Wolverine CubeSats
for Education Resolution''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
continues to streamline its STEM Engagement program, the
CubeSat Launch Initiative should continue to thrive and expand
as a priority of Congress and an enabler of American
innovation; and
(2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
should prioritize awareness of the CubeSat Launch Initiative in
annual budget proposals.
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