SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NATIONAL SECURITY ASPECT OF UNITED STATES PREEMINENCE IN HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT.

SEC. 915. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NATIONAL SECURITY ASPECT OF UNITED STATES PREEMINENCE IN HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT.(a) Findings.—The Congress finds that the following:(1) Preeminence by the United States in human spaceflight allows the United States to project leadership around the world and forms an important component of United States national security.119 STAT. 3410(2) Continued development of human spaceflight in low-Earth orbit, on the Moon, and beyond adds to the overall national strategic posture.(3) Human spaceflight enables continued stewardship of the region between the Earth and the Moon—an area that is critical and of growing national and international security relevance.(4) Human spaceflight provides unprecedented opportunities for the United States to lead peaceful and productive international relationships with the world community in support of United States security and geo-political objectives.(5) An increasing number of nations are pursuing human spaceflight and space-related capabilities, including China and India.(6) Past investments in human spaceflight capabilities represent a national resource that can be built upon and leveraged for a broad range of purposes, including national and economic security.(7) The industrial base and capabilities represented by the Space Transportation System (popularly referred to as the “space shuttle”) provide a critical launch capability for the Nation.(b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that it is in the national security interest of the United States to maintain preeminence in human spaceflight.