Assembly Joint Resolution No. 8–Committee on

Elections, Procedures, and Ethics

FILE NUMBER........

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

contributed to the national security of the United States through their

support of the Nevada Test Site; and

Whereas, Many sacrifices were made by the residents of the State of

Nevada which contributed to the victory of the United States in the Cold

War through the technologies which were developed and advanced at the

Nevada Test Site; and

Whereas, In appreciation of these sacrifices, any new commercial uses

of the Nevada Test Site authorized by the United States Department of

Energy must benefit the residents of the State of Nevada through new

employment opportunities, development of high technology industries and

jobs, and economic diversification; and

Whereas, The Nevada Test Site Development Corporation, a

nonprofit, community-based organization representative of business,

finance, education, government and concerned residents of this state, was

created as a community reuse organization to support and sponsor new

economic development projects at the Nevada Test Site; and

Whereas, The mission of the Nevada Test Site Development

Corporation is to promote and encourage economic diversification through

the development of science and technology in the State of Nevada; and

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

enhanced by the creation of a commercial aerospace industry in the State of

Nevada; and

Whereas, The commercial aerospace industry has indicated to the

Nevada Test Site Development Corporation a need for the development of

a spaceport that would provide an appropriate environment to test proposed

launch vehicles with reusable capabilities; and

Whereas, On August 18, 1997, former Secretary of Energy Federico

Peña signed an Economic Development Use Permit with the Nevada Test

Site Development Corporation that allows aerospace activities in certain

areas of the Nevada Test Site; and

Whereas, Kistler Aerospace has signed an agreement with the Nevada

Test Site Development Corporation to site their launch and recovery

operation in the State of Nevada and other aerospace companies including

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

commercial aerospace operation; and

Whereas, Because of this interest and requirements for the

development of aerospace technologies, the Nevada Test Site Development

Corporation created SPACEPORT NEVADA to facilitate aerospace

activities at the Nevada Test Site; and

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

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

benefit for all Nevadans"; and

Whereas, Governor Kenny Guinn recently was quoted as saying

"SPACEPORT NEVADA will launch Nevada into the new millennium by

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

Whereas, SPACEPORT NEVADA will work cooperatively with

industry leaders to form cooperative ventures that will provide

comprehensive support for its aerospace customers including Kistler

Aerospace today and VentureStar and others tomorrow; and

Whereas, SPACEPORT NEVADA will provide various launch

services that will encourage and attract other aerospace activities including

businesses involved in the manufacturing industry for aerospace

technology; and

Whereas, SPACEPORT NEVADA will advance the State of Nevada

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

that will strengthen the economy, improve the standard of living, elevate

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

now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of Nevada,

Jointly, That the members of the 70th session of the Nevada Legislature

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

Nevada Test Site Development Corporation for their support and

encouragement in the development of SPACEPORT NEVADA; and be it

further

Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature further commends the efforts of

the Nevada Test Site Development Corporation in obtaining a spaceport

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

efforts in making SPACEPORT NEVADA the location for commercial

aerospace operations; and be it further

Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature hereby commends the Nevada

Congressional Delegation, consisting of Senators Harry Reid and Richard

Bryan and Congressman Jim Gibbons and Congresswoman Shelly Berkley,

for its vision and continued support of the Nevada Test Site Development

Corporation’s SPACEPORT NEVADA; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a

copy of this resolution to Governor Kenny Guinn and each member of the

Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further

Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon passage and

approval.

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