Washington Updates

Jan. 5 marked the opening of the 112th Congress, which welcomed 96 new members to the House of Representatives and 16 to the Senate. Florida’s 24th district, home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, is now represented by Rep. Sandra Adams (R-FL). Also, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is Florida’s new junior senator. Alabama’s 5th district, home…

Space policymakers and industry executives celebrated United States-Japan space cooperation at a reception Jan. 31 at the Washington, D.C., residence of the Ambassador of Japan to the United States, Ichiro Fujisaki. Sponsored by the Space Foundation, the Ambassador and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the event recognized the long and rich history of cooperation…

The U.S. has removed nine Indian space and defense companies, including those from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), from the export control entity list, with the objective of strengthening high technology trade between the two countries. The action ends a 13-year ban on export of high-tech, dual-use items…

The Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee held a hearing on Transition and Implementation in December: The NASA Authorization Act of 2010. The hearing was the first NASA oversight hearing since President Barack Obama signed the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 into law. Senators told NASA and the Obama Administration they would take the necessary…

The Space Foundation was right in the middle of a historic gathering of international space agencies Nov. 17 in Washington, D.C. The International Academy of Astronautics Heads of Space Agencies Summit was an unprecedented gathering of more than 300 world leaders, academicians and space experts, including the heads of 30 space agencies from around the world – from…

As a result of the midterm elections in November, there will be at least 93 new Representatives and 16 new Senators in the 112th Congress. Republicans picked up at least 60 seats in the House of Representatives, enough to give them the majority in the 112th Congress. In the Senate, Republicans picked up six seats to…