FINDINGS.

SEC. 101. FINDINGS. Congress finds that— (1) investments in research and development are directly linked to long-term productivity and economic growth; (2) as a major driver of advanced technology, the space program can play a major role in the Nation’s reinvestment in civilian research and development; (3) in addition to carrying out the Nation’s goals in science and exploration, the space program makes a significant and direct contribution to the national employment base and, through the development of advanced technologies, will contribute to sustaining a healthy employment base and economy in the future; (4) the long-term health of the United States space program is critically dependent on maintaining a stable and continuously evolving core program of science, space transportation, space exploration, space technology, and space applications; (5) such a core program must be based on a realistic projection of resources that will be available and, in the near term, should not exceed inflationary growth; (6) in addition to carrying out a core space program, international leadership, technological advancement, and expanded scientific knowledge will be enhanced by an expanded space program based on special initiatives in science, exploration, space transportation, space technology, and space applications; (7) the Nation’s space program can provide a productive environment for utilizing the skills of scientists and engineers formerly involved in the Nation’s defense sector; (8) civil space activities of the United States, whether made possible by, or in response to. Cold War strategic competition with the Soviet Union, must, in an era of declining political conflict, mature as instruments of United States foreign policy, and grow to support the national interest during the post Cold War era; 106 STAT. 5108 (9) the national interest is furthered by trade and cooperation among friendly nations, and to the extent the former Soviet republics have shown themselves willing and capable of fostering a friendship with the United States, the national interest is furthered through trade and cooperation of mutual advantage between the United States and the former Soviet republics in civil aerospace, space science, and space exploration; (10) a vigorous and coordinated effort by the United States and other spacefaring nations is needed to minimize the growth of orbital debris, and space activities should be conducted in a manner that minimizes the likelihood of additional orbital debris creation; (11) the aerospace industry, rooted in aeronautics, is a major positive contributor to United States international influence and competitiveness; (12) aeronautical research and development sustains our leadership in air transport and military aviation worldwide; and (13) the National Aero-Space Plane is a core technology for any national aerospace policy and will permit the United States to maintain a worldwide competitive posture into the future.