I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3737 
To provide for National Science Foundation and National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration utilization of the Arecibo Observatory. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 3, 2007 
Mr. FORTUN˜O (for himself, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. HINCHEY, 
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. 
WALSH of New York, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. ORTIZ, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. 
WELLER of Illinois, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, and Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ- 
BALART of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Science and Technology 
A BILL 
To provide for National Science Foundation and National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration utilization of the 
Arecibo Observatory. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Arecibo Observatory is the world’s largest 
single-aperture telescope. It has been recognized as 
an Electrical Engineering Milestone by the Institute 
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and as a Me-
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chanical Engineering Landmark by the American 
Society of Mechanical Engineers. Its visitor center 
draws 120,000 visitors each year. 
(2) Arecibo radio astronomy led to the first dis-
covery of planets outside our own solar system, the 
first discovery of a binary pulsar (resulting in a 
Nobel Prize), and the first detailed three-dimen-
sional mapping of how galaxies are distributed in the 
universe. 
(3) Arecibo Observatory’s planetary radar has 
unique abilities worldwide for research on our solar 
system, including near-Earth asteroids. Besides their 
scientific importance, near-Earth asteroids may be 
both a significant hazard to Earth and a potential 
source of future resources. 
(4) Arecibo Observatory is a leading United 
States 
laboratory 
for 
research 
on 
Earth’s 
ionosphere. 
(5) Congress has mandated that the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration detect, track, 
catalogue, and characterize near-Earth asteroids and 
comets in order to provide warning and mitigation of 
the potential hazard of such near-Earth objects to 
the Earth. By being on the forefront of basic re-
search involving Near-Earth Objects, Space Weath-
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er, and Global Climate Change, the Arecibo Observ-
atory is an outstanding resource to Congress and to 
the American People. 
(6) The efforts taken to date by the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Na-
tional Science Foundation for detecting and charac-
terizing the hazards of Earth orbit-crossing aster-
oids and comets are not sufficient to the threat 
posed by such objects to cause widespread destruc-
tion and loss of life. 
(7) The general welfare and security of the 
United States require that the unique competence of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
in science and engineering systems be directed to de-
tecting, tracking, cataloging, and characterizing 
near-Earth asteroids and comets. The Arecibo Ob-
servatory is an invaluable and unique asset in warn-
ing and mitigating potential hazards posed by near- 
Earth objects. 
SEC. 2. CONTINUATION OF OPERATION. 
The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall— 
(1) ensure that the Arecibo Observatory is fully 
funded 
to 
continue 
its 
research 
on 
Earth’s 
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ionosphere, continue its research in radio astronomy, 
and continue research on the solar system; and 
(2) coordinate with the Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration to 
ensure that the capabilities of the Arecibo Observ-
atory continue to be available for National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration research in char-
acterizing and mitigating Near Earth Objects, and 
other research as needed. 
Æ 
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