Mr. BROWN. I've been wrestling for some time with language to include the goal of space settlement as a part of the NASA authorization, and I think I have satisfactory language to do that, and I'm going to put that in bill form and introduce it today, along with several of my colleagues. And I'm doing that because I really believe that despite the progress we're making in establishing longrange goals for NASA, we still have to understand that ultimately that goal is to put human beings into settlements, permanent settlements outside the Earth, and I'd like to see that incorporated in the language of the NASA Act.

I'd just like to quote Don Fuqua, our good friend and former chairman, who in his last report to the committee, said:

Congress must face the reality that our national well-being requires that we move into space with a methodical program of exploration and colonization, and this must be a major priority for the best use of Federal funds.

I think that was true when he wrote it a couple years ago, and it's still true today. And I request permission to revise and extend my remarks, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. NELSON. Without objection. Thank you, Mr. Brown. [The prepared statement of Mr. Brown follows:]

[1]

CONGRESSMAN GEORGE E. BROWN, JR.

REMARKS BEFORE THE HOUSE

SPACE SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE

NASA FISCAL YEAR 1989 AUTHORIZATION

OFFICE OF EXPLORATION

MARCH 22, 1988

MR. CHAIRMAN, I WELCOME WITNESSES TODAY FROM THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICE OF AERONAUTICS AND SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND OFFICE OF EXPLORATION. WHILE ENTHUSIASM FOR THE SPACE PROGRAM IS BEING DAMAGED BY CURRENT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT NASA IS MOVING FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AND LONG-RANGE PLANNING THAT WILL LEAD US INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. IT IS CRITICAL TO THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THIS COUNTRY THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE CIVIL SPACE TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE AND THE NEW PATHFINDER PROGRAM. BELIEVE THESE EFFORTS AND OTHERS WITHIN OAST, MORE THAN ANY OTHERS IN NASA, EMBODY THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN SPACE PROGRAM.

I

I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT NASA IS FOLLOWING THE

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PAINE COMMISSION, THE RIDE REPORT, AND THE
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES BY TAKING STEPS TO IMPROVE ITS
TECHNOLOGY BASE. OVERALL NASA IS REQUESTING A HEALTHY INCREASE
IN OAST OF MORE THAN 30 PERCENT OVER FISCAL YEAR 1988. THIS
INCLUDES INCREASES FOR AERONAUTICS AS WELL AS SPACE RESEARCH AND

[2]

TECHNOLOGY.

I ONLY HOPE THAT WE CAN PRESERVE THESE INCREASES,

EVEN UNDER THE LIMITS THAT WILL BE IMPOSED THIS WEEK BY THE

BUDGET RESOLUTION.

MR. CHAIRMAN, IF THE COMMITTEE WILL INDULGE ME FOR A FEW MOMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ANNOUNCE THAT I AM TODAY INTRODUCING LEGISLATION WHICH I BELIEVE HAS RELEVANCE TO TODAY'S HEARING. I WILL BE INTRODUCING A BILL WHICH GOES BEYOND EVEN THE MOST ADVANCED PLANNING BEING STUDIED BY THE OFFICE OF EXPLORATION. I AM PROPOSING THAT THE U.S. SET AS A LONG-RANGE THE BILL,

OBJECTIVE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPACE SETTLEMENTS. "THE SPACE SETTLEMENT ACT OF 1988," EXPANDS ON THE SPACE ACT OF 1958 BY AMENDING IT TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DECLARATION:

"THE CONGRESS DECLARES THAT THE EXTENSION OF HUMAN
LIFE BEYOND EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE FOR THE PURPOSES OF
ADVANCING SCIENCE, EXPLORATION, AND DEVELOPMENT WILL
ENHANCE THE GENERAL WELFARE ON EARTH AND THAT SUCH
EXTENSION WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
SPACE SETTLEMENTS FOR THE GREATER FULFILLMENT OF THOSE

PURPOSES."

DURING THIS UNCERTAIN PERIOD IN THE HISTORY OF NASA, I AM PROPOSING LEGISLATION WHICH I HOPE WILL HELP REVITALIZE THE SPIRIT OF THE SPACE ADVENTURE. I AM INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO SET AS A LONG-RANGE OBJECTIVE FOR THE NATION THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SELF-SUFFICIENT HUMAN SETTLEMENTS ON THE SPACE FRONTIER. THIS

86-904 - 88 - 12

[3]

LEGISLATION IS NOT ONLY APPROPRIATE, BUT I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES
WILL AGREE, IT IS MEANT TO HELP GIVE DIRECTION TO THE SPACE
PROGRAM INTO THE NEXT CENTURY.

IN FIGHTING THE NEAR-TERM BATTLE FOR THE VERY SURVIVAL OF NASA, THE TOPIC OF SPACE SETTLEMENTS MAY SEEM ALMOST

INCONSEQUENTIAL.

I WOULD STRONGLY ARGUE, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS THE LACK OF LONG-RANGE PLANNING THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CURRENT CRISIS IN THE NASA BUDGET. WE CANNOT ADEQUATELY RATIONALIZE A HEALTHY SPACE BUDGET WITHOUT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ULTIMATE IMPLICATIONS OF CURRENT SPACE PROJECTS.

DR. SALLY K. RIDE STATED IN HER REPORT TO NASA ADMINISTRATOR DR. JAMES C. FLETCHER THAT, "EXPLORING, PROSPECTING, AND SETTLING ARE PART OF OUR HERITAGE, AND WILL MOST ASSUREDLY BE PART OF OUR FUTURE." THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SPACE ALSO MAKES STRONG REFERENCES TO THE EVENTUALITY OF SPACE SETTLEMENTS.

IN ADDITION, THE ADMINISTRATION'S NEW NATIONAL SPACE POLICY ISSUED BY THE WHITE HOUSE IN JANUARY ARTICULATES FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT A GOAL OF THE UNITED STATES' SPACE PROGRAM IS TO EXPAND HUMAN PRESENCE AND ACTIVITY BEYOND EARTH ORBIT. WITH THIS POLICY, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS OPENED THE DOOR FOR LUNAR BASES AND MANNED EXPLORATION OF MARS. I DO NOT THINK WE CAN DISCUSS MOON AND MARS MISSIONS AS NATIONAL GOALS IN AND OF THEMSELVES,

HOWEVER, WITHOUT DISCUSSING THE ULTIMATE IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.

[4]

MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL BE INCLUDING A MUCH LONGER STATEMENT FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD TODAY. I ASKED THAT MY COLLEAGUES ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE REVIEW THE REMARKS CAREFULLY. IF THEY AGREE THAT "THE SPACE SETTLEMENT ACT" IS AN APPROPRIATE COURSE TO TAKE, I WOULD WELCOME THEIR COSPONSORSHIP.

IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE THE WORDS OF THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE, THE HONORABLE DON FUQUA, NOW PRESIDENT FOR THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION. IN HIS CHAIRMAN'S REPORT OF DECEMBER 1986, MR. FUQUA SAID:

"CONGRESS MUST FACE THE REALITY THEN THAT OUR NATIONAL
WELL-BEING REQUIRES THAT WE MOVE INTO SPACE WITH A
METHODICAL PROGRAM OF EXPLORATION AND COLONIZATION, AND
THAT THIS MUST BE A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR THE BEST USE OF
FEDERAL FUNDS."

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.