SENSE OF CONGRESS ON NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST OF MAINTAINING AERONAUTICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

SEC. 1062. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST OF MAINTAINING AERONAUTICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.(a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings:(1) The advances made possible by Government-funded research in emerging aeronautics technologies have enabled longstanding military air superiority for the United States in recent decades.(2) Military aircraft incorporate advanced technologies developed at research centers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.(3) The vehicle systems program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has provided major technology advances that have been used in every major civil and military aircraft developed over the last 50 years.(4) It is important for the cooperative research efforts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Defense that funding of research on military aviation technologies be robust.(5) Recent National Aeronautics and Space Administration and independent studies have demonstrated the competitiveness, scientific merit, and necessity of existing aeronautics programs.(6) The economic and military security of the United States is enhanced by the continued development of improved aeronautics technologies.(7) A national effort is needed to ensure that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration can help meet future aviation needs.(b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that it is in the national security interest of the United States to maintain a strong aeronautics research and development program within the Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.