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- Subject Index: Since 1995
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Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2005 SESSION
058420222WHEREAS, the United States has a proud heritage of leading the world in exploration and discovery on land, under the seas, and in outer space; and
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia has played a leading role in expanding America's exploration initiatives throughout history, as evidenced by adventures ranging from the settlement of Jamestown, to establishing the first aeronautics research laboratory, to training the Apollo astronauts and exploring the surface of Mars; and
WHEREAS, the expansion of America's frontier from the original 13 states to the outer reaches of our solar system has resulted in immeasurable benefits to all humankind through development of new technologies and commercial spin-offs, the creation of new jobs across the entire economic spectrum, economic growth through creation of new commercial products and markets, the creation of advanced educational opportunities, and the establishment of a legacy for future generations; and
WHEREAS, space exploration, particularly as carried out under the auspices of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has generated discoveries and indirect economic and social benefits; has been proven to ignite American students' interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and has led to the creation of the Explorer Schools, Challenger Centers, Distance Learning Programs, and the NASA Educator Resource Centers; and
WHEREAS, NASA Centers—Langley Research Center and Wallops Flight Facility—both recognized for their outstanding research facilities and contributions to the nation's aerospace program, jointly contribute to local and state economic development, including the direct employment of more than 4,700 people within Virginia; and
WHEREAS, NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton is a world-renowned center for the research and development of many cutting-edge aerospace technologies and is a model for creating a consortium of university, government, and private sector entities to foster collaborative research and development, such as the National Aerospace Institute, National Consortium for Aviation Mobility, Technology Commercialization Center, and the Virginia Space Grant Consortium; and
WHEREAS, Virginia's colleges and universities and many of Virginia's large and small business interests have all benefited from nearly $3 billion of NASA funding that has come into the state in the past five years; and
WHEREAS, NASA has a long and proven history in performing the courageous and sometimes costly work of charting frontiers, and it is clear that allowing the agency to carry on with this important work is in the long-term best interests of this nation; and
WHEREAS, the talent, technology, and infrastructure exist in Virginia to provide resources that will be essential to carrying out NASA's future missions; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Congress of the United States be urged to enact and fully fund the proposed vision for the NASA exploration program as submitted to Congress in the Fiscal Year 2006 budget to enable the United States to remain a leader in the exploration and development of space, aeronautics, and earth sciences; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the General Assembly express its
support of NASA in the continued development of the space station and other
NASA infrastructure, the use of such infrastructure in ongoing and new research
projects, and the efforts to return to the moon and to venture to Mars and
other planets in the solar system [ ; and, be it
RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of
Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the United
States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and
the members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation so that they may be
apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter
] .