NEWS RELEASE:
NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY APPLAUDS SENATE PASSAGE OF COMMERCIAL SPACE ACT
Reminds Congress that bill is first step in legislation needed to open space to private sector

(Washington, DC) -- August 3 -- In response to the Senate passage last Thursday night of the Commercial Space Act of 1997 (H.R. 1702), the National Space Society issued the following statement:

"We are heartened by the successful efforts of Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack of Florida to spur the Commercial Space Act through the Senate. They recognize, as do we, that if there is any hope to send the bill to the Oval Office before the end of the congressional year, there is no time to waste.

The Commercial Space Act must be passed this year. Without it, flight tests of reusable launch vehicles scheduled for 1999 cannot happen. Such commercial vehicles could revolutionize travel for individuals and businesses.

Movement on the Commercial Space Act is also significant because it represents the ability of Congress to 'test drive' new, forward-thinking legislation that heralds the next generation of space political activity. Loan guarantees for space launch vehicle development, tax incentives for space manufacturing, property rights in space -- are just some of the issues that may come before our next Congress.

We strongly urge the House and Senate to now proceed to conference on the Act in order to maintain the momentum established by Senators Graham and Mack."