Joaquin Castro: “First, I would like to thank my colleague from San Antonio, Chairman Lamar Smith, and also follow Texan Eddie Bernice…”

“First, I would like to thank my colleague from San Antonio, Chairman Lamar Smith, and also follow Texan Eddie Bernice Johnson, the ranking member, for their work on this bill and for consideration of my amendment. My amendment amends the section of the bill concerning the orbital traffic management study. The bill, as written, has the Administrator of NASA enter into an agreement with an independent private systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities. My amendment would include nonprofits, so that nonprofit independent research organizations can contribute to this critical work. In addition to allowing for private contractors to be part of this discussion, my amendment would also allow for nonprofits to do the same. In Texas, we have become a hub for space research and exploration. Some of the private industries or private businesses doing work in this business include Lockheed and Boeing, but there are also wonderful nonprofits like the Southwest Research Institute, in our hometown of San Antonio, and the Universities Space Research Association, which is based in Houston. My amendment would allow these nonprofits to also be part of this work. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.”