Senate Commerce Committee Executive and Congress Version - July 15 onwards

[neilh]

amendment offered by Ms. Johnson from Texas

Johnson: section 601 focuses on improving STEM education, discusses shortage of minority teachers, amendment would task NASA administrator to consult with Secretary of Education and others on this topic

Vote: aye's have it

[neilh]

Ms. Fudge offering amendment by Ms. Edwards, who's temporarily absent at press conference

Fudge: pilot program for hands-on technology-related education and training, emphasis on underserved and underrepresented minority populations,

vote: aye's have it

Ms. Fudge and Mr. Wilson from Ohio offering another amendment

Fudge: adds provision to institutional management system, assessment of what structural modifications would be needed

Vote: aye's have it

[Robotbeat]

NEO ammendment: federal agencies designated with how to deal with a NEO that might be heading towards the Earth, what to do, how to deflect, reaffirms existing policy and an October 15th deadline.
Ayes have it.

[neilh]

amendment offered by Mr. Rohrabacher

Rohrabacher: near-Earth objects a threat to our nation and humanity, administration needs to designate what would be done and who would be responsible for deflecting near-earth objects if one were detected by (Oct 15?) deadline

Bartlett: mentions NEO ending dinosaurs, supports amendment

Vote: Aye's have it

[Robotbeat]

Ammendment reaffirms role of Arecibo telescope for identifying NEOs, reaffirms existing policy. Ayes have it.

[Robotbeat]

Rohrabacher ammendment about China (he hates that gov't!)
"Hug a Nazi, make a liberal" argument discussed.

Prohibits expanding cooperation (?) between NASA and China. Talks about China deploying a probe near ISS which threatened the station (anyone have info on this?).

[Robotbeat]

Mr. Wu talking about how Apollo-Soyuz happened during the middle of the Cold War, etc... little tech transfer...

[neilh]

amendment offered by Mr. Rohrabacher

Rohrabacher: role of Arecibo telescope in identification of threats of near-earth objects, without telescope would be unable to chart course (?), reaffirming existing policy

Vote: aye's have it

amendment offered by Mr. Rohrabacher

Rohrabacher: two serious threats of radical Islam and emergence of powerful China, lack of political reform in China and evolution into more democratic country, Chinese government threat to its people and US, amendment prohibits any exchange or contact between NASA/contractors and China, mentions danger posed to space station from debris caused by prior china asat weapons, would prevent NASA from expanding relationship with "vicious dictatorship," transfer of knowledge has been one-way from us to them, knows it's a controversial declaration, would want to see some reform on their end before resetting restriction

Gordon: amendment says to not even discuss with them, mentions Jim Baker quote about how we shouldn't be afraid to talk with them, although appreciates general concerns

Bartlett: asks if amendment is passed if would require referral to international relations; counsel responds doesn't think so, Gordon says it's a "definitive maybe"

Rohrabacher: State department would still be able to contact and discuss with China, just saying NASA shouldn't at this time

Wu (born in Taiwan): work began with Russians when they were Soviet Union in 70s, when had thousands of nuclear weapons pointed at each other and very limited technology transfer, had Apollo-Soyuz docking, led to several decades of worthwhile (although sometimes testy) space relations, Soviet Union not exemplar for human rights, Secretary Gates during Bush Administration testified that he favored sharing some space activities with Chinese to enhance our security interests, better understanding of intentions and capabilities inherently in our interest, confidence-building to allow us to put pressure on them to not conduct anti-satellite tests, Gates said well worth risks

Rohrabacher: was opposed to space collaboration with Soviet Union, corresponded with massive build-up of Soviet weaponry, believes had negative effect, Wu question if rohrabacher thinks earlier collaboration helped later collaboration on ISS

Vote: No's have it, rohrabacher asks for roll call, clerk recording vote

Gordon: no
costello:
johnson: no
woolsey:
wu: no
baird:
miller: no
lepinsky:
giffords: no
edwards: no
fudge: no
lujan: no
tonko: no
rothman: no
matheson: no
davis:
chandler:
carnahan:
hill: no
mitchell: no
wilson: no
dahlkepper: no
grayson: no
kosmas: no
peters: no
garamendi:
hall: aye
sensenbrenner:
lamar smith:
rohrabacher: aye
bartlett: aye
aylers:
lucas:
biggert:
aiken:
nogibower:
ingless:
mccall: no
bollart:
bilbray: aye
adrian smith: aye
brown:
olson: aye

6 members aye, 20 no, no's have it (Gordon almost misspoke and said aye's had it initially)

(pardon misspelling)

[neilh]

amendment offered by Donna Edwards from Maryland

Edwards: need to retain internal capacity at NASA to oversee/manage/direct/influence many talented contractors, nothing in bill can happen without skilled workforce, calls to extend moratorium against reduction in force, NASA workforce very fluid and adaptable,

Hall: reluctantly support amendment, reluctant to protect only civil service employees when contractors being eliminated

Gordon: would give 5-year moratorium, if it makes sense for someone in NASA to do another job they'll be reassigned but NASA needs flexibility to hire new people with new skills

Edwards asks for recorded vote

Gordon: no
costello:
johnson:
woolsey: aye
wu: aye
baird: no
miller: no
lepinsky: no
giffords: no
edwards: aye
fudge: aye
lujan: aye
tonko: aye
rothman:
mathison: no
davis:
chandler:
carnahan:
hill: no
mitchell: aye
wilson: aye
dolkepper: no
grayson: aye
kosmas: aye
peters: no
garamendi:
hall: no
sensenbrenner:
lamar smith:
rohrabacher: no
bartlett: no
ailers:
lucas:
biggert: no
aiken:
nogabower:
ingless: no
mccall: no
bollart:
bilbray: no
adrian smith: no
brown:
olson: no

12 aye, 18 no, no's prevail

They're now breaking for a vote, 3 amendments left to go over

[TexasRED]

feed died for me, anyone else?

[Chris Bergin]

Yep, feed died for me too

[psloss]

BTW, the House version of the authorization bill is HR 5781.  Thomas has the version that was referred to the subcommittee for markup.  (With all the amendments, it will look different when it goes to the floor for debate and possible further amendments.)

[zerm]

My feed's back

[neilh]

mccall from texas: decadal survey puts forth recommendations for research developed by top scientists in fields, funding was moved from science to cover earlier (Constellation?) budget shortfalls, wants to strengthen language regarding decadal surveys

vote: aye's have it

proposed amendment from miller and sensenbrenner

miller (from NC): miller and sensenbrenner disagreed on earlier amendment, disappointed in nasa's office of general counsel, feels two instances in which did not follow letter and spirit of law, amendment requires ethics training for licensed attorneys in office, moves office of ethics officer away from counsel

vote: aye's have it

proposed amendment, modified amendment from mr. peters of michigan

peters: administrator conduct study on radiation studies on non-human primates, research had been done for 40 ways, other ways to conduct these sorts of studies, USAF and ESA have moved away from these studies, need to provide justification and rationale for additional research

Bartlett: part of research team that put first primates in space, school physiologist (?), had army monkey and navy monkey (rhesus monkey and spider monkey), suborbital flight, supports amendment, says don't need whole-body exposures anymore

Wu: agree study is in order, yields back time

Vote: aye's have it

[neilh]

Gordon: not a perfect bill, because don't have perfect amount of money, but thanks all for assistance, hearing adjourned

[psloss]

Audio of the Senate Appropriations Committee markup of a few appropriations bills (including CJS, which includes NASA):
http://appropriations.senate.gov/webcasts.cfm?method=webcasts.view&id=0a23cc27-5cc3-4936-9d06-bbbe34c3b002

[robertross]

Gordon: not a perfect bill, because don't have perfect amount of money, but thanks all for assistance, hearing adjourned

Thanks for your efforts Neil. Much appreciated.

[Robotbeat]

Gordon: not a perfect bill, because don't have perfect amount of money, but thanks all for assistance, hearing adjourned

Thanks for your efforts Neil. Much appreciated.

Seconded!

[neilh]

Gordon: not a perfect bill, because don't have perfect amount of money, but thanks all for assistance, hearing adjourned

Thanks for your efforts Neil. Much appreciated.

You're quite welcome.

[yg1968]

Audio of the Senate Appropriations Committee markup of a few appropriations bills (including CJS, which includes NASA):
http://appropriations.senate.gov/webcasts.cfm?method=webcasts.view&id=0a23cc27-5cc3-4936-9d06-bbbe34c3b002

Any changes from yesterday?