Senator John Cornyn | Official U.S. House headshot
Senator John Cornyn | Official U.S. House headshot
May 1, 2024
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Kyrsten Sinema, along with U.S. Congressmen Brian Babin and Eric Sorensen, have introduced the NASA Streamlining Partnerships for Research and Education for Engineering and Science (SPREES) Act. This legislation aims to streamline the process for NASA to partner with federal agencies in scientific or engineering research and education initiatives.
Senator Cornyn emphasized Texas's historical significance in space exploration, stating, “Texas has a long history of leadership when it comes to space exploration, and NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston has been a key player in strengthening America’s competitiveness as we enter a new space race with foreign adversaries like China and Russia.”
Senator Sinema highlighted the importance of cutting bureaucratic red tape to enhance partnerships between agencies, stating, “We’re cutting red tape to streamline partnerships between agencies that will propel Arizona’s and America’s leadership in space and science research and innovation.”
Congressman Babin expressed his pride in supporting the SPREES Act, noting, “For decades, NASA has inspired generations of Americans through exploration and scientific discovery. I am proud to support the SPREES Act to utilize inter-government collaboration, enhancing NASA’s engineering research and innovation.”
Congressman Sorensen emphasized NASA's role in technological advancement and collaboration, explaining, “NASA is leading the world in developing new technologies that help our neighbors better understand the world they live in. Right now, NASA does not have the ability to share funds with other government agencies to conduct shared research. The NASA Streamlining Partnerships for Research and Education for Engineering and Science Act cuts through this red tape by giving NASA the authority they need to work collaboratively with other agencies to make sure we are on the cutting edge of science, discovery, and human space exploration.”
The SPREES Act would enable NASA to receive funds from other federal agencies for scientific or engineering research and education, limited to grants or cooperative agreements. Additionally, NASA would be required to report to Congress on the amount of funds transferred to the agency and how those funds were utilized.
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