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06 November 1997 NEWS RELEASE: CONTACT: Karen Rugg, 202-543-1900 Washington, DC -- November 6, 1997 -- The National Space Society has learned that Senators Bob Graham (D-FL) and Connie Mack (R-FL) will introduce to the Senate tomorrow a companion bill to the House version of the Commercial Space Act of 1997 (H.R. 1702), which was passed by the House late Tuesday night. In a statement issued late this afternoon, National Space Society President Charles Walker, speaking for the space advocacy organization which represents 25,000 members and chapters in every state, said, "It is extremely encouraging to see members of the Senate taking action and introducing legislation that keeps space competitive by updating a number of critical laws. With this step, the Senate recognizes the potential the commercial space industry has for generating new markets and jobs here on Earth, not only in technology, but in support areas such as insurance, financial and legal services. With $77 billion a year global revenues in 1996 and potential global revenues of $200 billion by 2000, the space industry is ready to take center stage. The U.S. can be sitting right up front. The National Space Society applauds Senators Graham and Mack for taking this initiative. We heartily encourage their colleagues to support this important bill."The National Space Society is an independent, nonprofit space advocacy organization with headquarters in Washington, DC. Its 25,000 members and 95 chapters around the world actively promote a spacefaring civilization. For digital images of the conference, visit http://www.nss.org/summit. For a series of reports on conference presentations, visit NSS's Space Exploration Online at America Online, keyword "space." |
