Title: Wolverine CubeSats for Education Resolution
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Wolverine CubeSats for Education Resolution
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 85 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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;
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;
Whereas Congress recognizes that NASA reorganized the Office of Education into 
        the NASA STEM Engagement program in order to streamline and maximize the 
        STEM-related 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 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
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This concurrent resolution may be cited as the ``Wolverine CubeSats 
for Education Resolution''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        continues to streamline its STEM Engagement program, the 
        CubeSat Launch Initiative should continue to thrive and expand 
        as a priority of Congress and an enabler of American 
        innovation; and
            (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        should prioritize awareness of the CubeSat Launch Initiative in 
        annual budget proposals.
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