S.J.R. 6

1

SPACE EXPLORATION RESOLUTION
2 2005 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson
5
6 LONG TITLE
7 General Description:
8 This joint resolution of the Legislature supports renewed exploration of the solar system
9 and full funding of the space exploration provisions of the President's 2005 budget.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This resolution:
12 . expresses support for returning humans to the moon and pursuing human
13 exploration of Mars and the solar system;
14 . supports continued funding of human space flight, Earth Science, and other
15 programs, as well as continued funding of the space-related Shuttle Booster
16 Program; and
17 . encourages the United States Congress to enact and fully fund the proposed budget
18 for the Space Exploration Program as submitted in the 2005 budget, which will
19 enable the United States and the state of Utah to remain leaders in the exploration
20 and the development of space.
21 Special Clauses:
22 None
23
24 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25 WHEREAS, when Christopher Columbus made his voyages across the Atlantic in the
26 15th and 16th centuries, his ships carried the inscription "Following the light of the sun, we left
27 the Old World";

28 WHEREAS, exploration and discovery have been especially important to the American
29 experience, providing vision, hope, and economic stimulus, from New World pioneers and
30 American frontiersmen to the Apollo space program;
31 WHEREAS, just as Lewis and Clark could not have predicted the settlement of the
32 American West within a hundred years of the start of their famous 19th century expedition, the
33 total benefits of a single exploratory undertaking or discovery cannot be predicted in advance;
34 WHEREAS, the desire to explore is part of the national character, and history has
35 shown that space exploration benefits all humankind through new technologies for everyday
36 application;
37 WHEREAS, new jobs formed across the entire economic spectrum have been created
38 as a result of space exploration, along with new markets and commercial products;
39 WHEREAS, space exploration has inspired and educated many across the world, has
40 enhanced United States leadership, has increased security, and has left a legacy for future
41 generations;
42 WHEREAS, since its inception in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space
43 Administration (NASA) has accomplished many great scientific and technological feats, in
44 addition to advancing humankind's knowledge of the Earth and the universe;
45 WHEREAS, on January 14, 2004, President George W. Bush announced a new vision
46 for United States space exploration, with the goal of returning humans to the moon within the
47 next decade and extending a human presence across the solar system; and
48 WHEREAS, the President's fiscal year 2005 budget request for NASA is $1 billion
49 higher than the previous year's request and would redirect $11 billion in the existing funding to
50 provide a total of $12 billion over five years to help address the space exploration vision:
51 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
52 expresses support for returning humans to the moon and pursuing human exploration of Mars
53 and the solar system.
54 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports continued funding of
55 human space flight, Earth Science, and other programs, as well as continued funding of the
56 space-related Shuttle Booster Program.
57 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages the United States
58 Congress to enact and fully fund the proposed budget for the Space Exploration Program as

59 submitted in the 2005 budget, which will enable the United States and the state of Utah to
60 remain leaders in the exploration and the development of space.
61 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
62 the United States, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United
63 States House of Representatives, NASA, and the members of Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 12-6-04 9:55 AM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel