Sec. 201. Sense of Congress on sustaining national space commitments
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/bill/114/s/3346/is/section-201A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that— the United States, in collaboration with its international, academic, and industry partners, should sustain and build upon our national space commitments and investments across Administrations with a continuity of purpose to advance recent achievements of space exploration and space science to extend humanity’s reach into deep space, including cis-lunar space, the Moon, the surface and moons of Mars, and beyond; NASA leaders can best leverage investments in the United States space program by continuing to develop a balanced portfolio for space exploration and space science, including continued development of the Space Launch System, Orion, Commercial Crew and Commercial Resupply Services, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the ongoing operations of the International Space Station; a national, government-led space program that builds on current science and exploration programs and advances human knowledge and capabilities and opens the frontier beyond Earth for ourselves, our international partners, commercial enterprise, and science is of critical importance to our national destiny and to a future guided by United States values and freedoms; continuity of purpose and effective execution of core NASA programs are essential for efficient use of resources in pursuit of timely and tangible accomplishments;
NASA could improve its efficiency and effectiveness by working with industry to streamline existing programs and requirements, procurement practices, institutional footprint, and bureaucracy while preserving effective program oversight, accountability, and safety; United States Government astronauts changed the trajectory of human history toward the promise of the stars, and it is imperative that the United States maintain and enhance its leadership in space exploration and continue to expand freedom and opportunities in space for all Americans that are consistent with the Constitution of the United States; and NASA is and should remain a multimission agency with a balanced and robust set of core missions in science, space technology, aeronautics, human space flight and exploration, and education.