IV
115TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 109
Expressing support for the CubeSat Launch Initiative and recognizing the
development of WeissSat–1.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 27, 2018
Mr. MAST (for himself, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. DUNN, Ms. WASSERMAN
SCHULTZ, Mr. DESANTIS, Mr. CRIST, Mr. POSEY, Mr. WEBSTER of Flor-
ida, Mr. ROSS, Mr. SOTO, and Mr. BILIRAKIS) 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 development 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-
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ment, education, and operations;
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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 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 Initia-
tive in 2017 to be launched as an auxiliary payload in
2019;
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, currently, the CubeSat Launch Initiative in fiscal
year 2017 received $4.8 million in contributions from the
Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate,
Science Mission Directorate, Space Technology Mission
Directorate, and the Office of Education;
Whereas NASA’s fiscal year 2018 budget request proposed
eliminating the Office of Education (OE) and ‘‘its port-
folio of OE-funded activities programs at the nine NASA
centers and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’’;
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Whereas the House of Representatives passed an appropria-
tions Act funding the Office of Education at $90 million
and, House Report 115–231, reads ‘‘The Committee un-
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derstands that the Office of Education is undergoing a
series of internal reviews and assessments; NASA shall
brief the Committee when these assessments are con-
cluded’’;
Whereas the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an ap-
propriations Act funding the Office of Education at $100
million and, Senate Report 115–139, reads ‘‘The Com-
mittee does not agree with the proposed cancellation of
the activities within Education and has provided funding
for the programs for the upcoming fiscal year. However,
if NASA determines that the programs would be better
managed, executed, and evaluated in other places within
NASA, the Committee is not averse to considering fund-
ing these activities either within a revised Education di-
rectorate or other alternative locations’’;
Whereas Congress recognizes that NASA is reorganizing the
Office of Education, and it is a critical moment for
American educators, students, and STEM innovators,
through their elected Representatives and Senators, to
identify programs under the Office of Education that
must be preserved and expanded;
Whereas the ultimate validation of this program is when
CubeSats are launched and operating in space;
Whereas the 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 NASA’s Educational Resource Centers have pro-
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moted science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) engagement through public outreach;
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Whereas the Astronaut Memorial Foundation supports
NASA’s engagement and outreach through the Edu-
cational Resource Center and contributions to the Foun-
dation allow for greater awareness of CubeSats to aca-
demia and industry;
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
1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
2 concurring),
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4 This concurrent resolution may be cited as the
5 ‘‘WeissSat–1 Resolution’’.
6 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
7 It is the sense of Congress that—
8 (1) as the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
9 ministration’s Office of Education is undergoing in-
10 ternal reviews and assessments to determine the ap-
11 propriate structure of the office moving forward, the
12 CubeSat Launch Initiative must continue to thrive
13 and expand as a priority of Congress and an enabler
14 of American innovation; and
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1 (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
2 istration should prioritize awareness of the CubeSat
3 Launch Initiative in annual budget proposals.
Æ
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