Wolverine CubeSats for Education Resolution

IV 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. BILI- RAKIS, Mr. SOTO, Mrs. DEMINGS, Mr. DUNN, Mr. YOHO, Mr. WEBSTER of Florida, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, and Ms. WILSON of Florida) sub- mitted 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 pro- grams, educational institutions, and nonprofit organiza- tions; Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative gives CubeSat devel- opers access to a low-cost pathway to conduct research in the areas of science, exploration, technology develop- ment, education, and operations; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:03 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC85.IH HC85 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HCON 85 IH Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative advances NASA’s strategic goals and objectives; Whereas CubeSat research is essential for military, edu- cational, 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 Decem- ber 3, 2018, from Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard a Falcon-9; Whereas the Wolverine CubeSat Development Team was se- lected 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:03 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC85.IH HC85 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HCON 85 IH Whereas Congress recognizes that NASA reorganized the Of- fice 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 re- quested no funding ‘‘for Space Grant, Established Pro- gram 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 ad- ministration, oversight, monitoring, and funding of grants previously awarded by the Office of STEM En- gagement’’; 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 ex- pects NASA to continue implementing the programs below and to ensure that overhead costs to support these programs do not exceed five percent. Further, the Com- mittee 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 ac- tivities, and therefore rejects the proposed cancellation of education programs. These types of programs allow stu- dents to experience the full range of STEM-related skills VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:03 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC85.IH HC85 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HCON 85 IH 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 Engage- ment 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 tech- nology demonstrations in space; Whereas the Wolverine CubeSat Development Team and the CubeSat Launch Initiative have shown that younger stu- dents 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 pro- grams such as the CubeSat Launch Initiative, those dreams may be unrealized: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 1 concurring), 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This concurrent resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Wol- 4 verine CubeSats for Education Resolution’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:03 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HC85.IH HC85 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HCON 85 IH SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 1 It is the sense of Congress that— 2 (1) as the National Aeronautics and Space Ad- 3 ministration continues to streamline its STEM En- 4 gagement program, the CubeSat Launch Initiative 5 should continue to thrive and expand as a priority 6 of Congress and an enabler of American innovation; 7 and 8 (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Admin- 9 istration should prioritize awareness of the CubeSat 10 Launch Initiative in annual budget proposals. 11 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:03 Jan 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HC85.IH HC85 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS