IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 85 

Expressing support for the CubeSat Launch Initiative and recognizing the 

launch of WeissSat-1. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 24, 2020 

Mr. MAST (for himself, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. POSEY, Mr. CRIST, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. SOTO, Mrs. DEMINGS, Mr. DUNN, Mr. YOHO, Mr. WEBSTER

of Florida, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, and Ms. WILSON of Florida) 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 launch 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 programs, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations; 

Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative gives CubeSat developers access to a low-cost pathway to conduct research 

in the areas of science, exploration, technology development, education, and operations; 


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•HCON 85 IH 

Whereas the CubeSat Launch Initiative advances NASA’s 

strategic goals and objectives; 

Whereas CubeSat research is essential for military, educational, 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 Wolverine 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 Initiative in 2017; 

Whereas the ‘‘WeissSat-1’’ was successfully launched December 3, 2018, from Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard a 

Falcon-9; 

Whereas the Wolverine CubeSat Development Team was selected again by NASA for the CapSat-1 mission in the 

10th Round of the CubeSat Launch Initiative; 

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 the CubeSat Launch Initiative in fiscal year 2019 

received $3,440,000 in contributions from the NASA 

Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, 

Science Mission Directorate, Space Technology Mission 

Directorate, and the Office of Education; 


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Whereas Congress recognizes that NASA reorganized the Office of Education into the NASA STEM Engagement 

program in order to streamline and maximize the STEMrelated activities and services it can offer within allocated 

fiscal resources; 

Whereas in NASA’s fiscal year 2020 budget, NASA requested no funding ‘‘for Space Grant, Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and 

Minority Universe Research and Education Project 

(MUREP)’’ and proposed ‘‘to use unobligated balances 

previously appropriated to support the termination of 

these activities, including but not limited to, ongoing administration, oversight, monitoring, and funding of 

grants previously awarded by the Office of STEM Engagement’’; 

Whereas the Congress passed an appropriations Act, which 

became Public Law 116–93, funding the NASA STEM 

Engagement program at $120,000,000; 

Whereas House Report 116–101 states ‘‘The Committee expects NASA to continue implementing the programs 

below and to ensure that overhead costs to support these 

programs do not exceed five percent. Further, the Committee directs NASA to include an adequately requested 

funding amount for STEM in the fiscal year 2021 budget 

request and future requests.’’; 

Whereas Senate Report 116–127 states ‘‘The Committee is 

supportive of NASA’s STEM engagement efforts that 

provide hands-on learning experiences for middle, high 

school, and college students, including space launch activities, and therefore rejects the proposed cancellation of 

education programs. These types of programs allow students to experience the full range of STEM-related skills 


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involved in designing, testing, and launching vehicles and 

designing payloads to deepen their interest in science and 

engineering fields.’’; 

Whereas Congress recognizes that it is a critical moment for 

American educators, students, and STEM innovators, 

through their elected Representatives and Senators, to 

identify the critical necessity for NASA’s STEM Engagement programs that must be preserved and expanded; 

Whereas the ultimate validation of this program is when 

CubeSats are launched and operating in space; 

Whereas a 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 technology demonstrations in space; 

Whereas the Wolverine CubeSat Development Team and the 

CubeSat Launch Initiative have shown that younger students can be successful in authentic hands-on aerospace 

projects; 

Whereas many students dream of space exploration and have 

interest in STEM careers; and 

Whereas without access to and awareness of available programs 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 ‘‘Wol5 verine CubeSats for Education Resolution’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

2 It is the sense of Congress that— 

3 (1) as the National Aeronautics and Space Ad4 ministration continues to streamline its STEM En5 gagement program, the CubeSat Launch Initiative 

6 should continue to thrive and expand as a priority 

7 of Congress and an enabler of American innovation; 

8 and 

9 (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Admin10 istration should prioritize awareness of the CubeSat 

11 Launch Initiative in annual budget proposals. 

Æ 


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