EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Whereas, For many years the residents of the State of Nevada have

1-2 contributed to the national security of the United States through their

1-3 support of the Nevada Test Site; and

1-4 Whereas, Many sacrifices were made by the residents of the State of

1-5 Nevada which contributed to the victory of the United States in the Cold

1-6 War through the technologies which were developed and advanced at the

1-7 Nevada Test Site; and

1-8 Whereas, In appreciation of these sacrifices, any new commercial uses

1-9 of the Nevada Test Site authorized by the United States Department of

1-10 Energy must benefit the residents of the State of Nevada through new

1-11 employment opportunities, development of high technology industries and

1-12 jobs, and economic diversification; and

1-13 Whereas, The Nevada Test Site Development Corporation, a

1-14 nonprofit, community-based organization representative of business,

1-15 finance, education, government and concerned residents of this state, was

1-16 created as a community reuse organization to support and sponsor new

1-17 economic development projects at the Nevada Test Site; and

2-1 Whereas, The mission of the Nevada Test Site Development

2-2 Corporation is to promote and encourage economic diversification through

2-3 the development of science and technology in the State of Nevada; and

2-4 Whereas, The growth of science and technology in this state would be

2-5 enhanced by the creation of a commercial aerospace industry in the State

2-6 of Nevada; and

2-7 Whereas, The commercial aerospace industry has indicated to the

2-8 Nevada Test Site Development Corporation a need for the development of

2-9 a spaceport that would provide an appropriate environment to test

2-10 proposed launch vehicles with reusable capabilities; and

2-11 Whereas, On August 18, 1997, former Secretary of Energy Federico

2-12 Peña signed an Economic Development Use Permit with the Nevada Test

2-13 Site Development Corporation that allows aerospace activities in certain

2-14 areas of the Nevada Test Site; and

2-15 Whereas, Kistler Aerospace has signed an agreement with the Nevada

2-16 Test Site Development Corporation to site their launch and recovery

2-17 operation in the State of Nevada and other aerospace companies including

2-18 VentureStar have expressed an interest in using the Nevada Test Site for

2-19 commercial aerospace operation; and

2-20 Whereas, Because of this interest and requirements for the

2-21 development of aerospace technologies, the Nevada Test Site Development

2-22 Corporation created SPACEPORT NEVADA to facilitate aerospace

2-23 activities at the Nevada Test Site; and

2-24 Whereas, On August 19, 1998, former Governor Bob Miller stated in

2-25 support of SPACEPORT NEVADA that "This effort will prove a great

2-26 benefit for all Nevadans"; and

2-27 Whereas, Governor Kenny Guinn recently was quoted as saying

2-28 "SPACEPORT NEVADA will launch Nevada into the new millennium by

2-29 creating the types of jobs our school children will need in the future"; and

2-30 Whereas, SPACEPORT NEVADA will work cooperatively with

2-31 industry leaders to form cooperative ventures that will provide

2-32 comprehensive support for its aerospace customers including Kistler

2-33 Aerospace today and VentureStar and others tomorrow; and

2-34 Whereas, SPACEPORT NEVADA will provide various launch

2-35 services that will encourage and attract other aerospace activities including

2-36 businesses involved in the manufacturing industry for aerospace

2-37 technology; and

2-38 Whereas, SPACEPORT NEVADA will advance the State of Nevada

2-39 to the next plateau in economic development by creating high-value jobs

2-40 that will strengthen the economy, improve the standard of living, elevate

2-41 the quality of education and create a new high-tech industry in this state;

2-42 now, therefore, be it

3-1 Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of Nevada,

3-2 Jointly, That the members of the 70th session of the Nevada Legislature

3-3 do hereby commend the efforts of the 60-member Board of Directors of

3-4 the Nevada Test Site Development Corporation for their support and

3-5 encouragement in the development of SPACEPORT NEVADA; and be it

3-6 further

3-7 Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature further commends the efforts

3-8 of the Nevada Test Site Development Corporation in obtaining a spaceport

3-9 operator’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration and for its

3-10 efforts in making SPACEPORT NEVADA the location for commercial

3-11 aerospace operations; and be it further

3-12 Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature hereby commends the Nevada

3-13 Congressional Delegation, consisting of Senators Harry Reid and Richard

3-14 Bryan and Congressman Jim Gibbons and Congresswoman Shelly

3-15 Berkley, for its vision and continued support of the Nevada Test Site

3-16 Development Corporation’s SPACEPORT NEVADA; and be it further

3-17 Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

3-18 a copy of this resolution to Governor Kenny Guinn and each member of

3-19 the Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further

3-20 Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon passage and

3-21 approval.