Last year's commercial space bill passed the full House, but then went nowhere after the Senate declined to take any action.  

With your help, we can work to make sure that this year's legislation does not meet the same fate!  

We need to communicate our support for the Act. Therefore, the Alert has been extended through September 15. Please continue to send written letters or e-mail to Senator John McCain (R-AZ), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Activists from the state of Arizona (and Republicans in particular) are encouraged to write.  

When you write, be positive and be brief. Written or typed letters still have the most impact over electronic mail. A letter should be no more than one written or typed page, or no more than one screen for e-mail messages.  

If you are a constituent of Senator McCain, be sure to say so!  

Paragraph #1: Sample introduction:  

"I am a 35-year-old computer engineer from Prescott, Arizona. As a constituent, I've appreciated the interest you've shown in science, research and space issues. I would like to call to your attention a piece of legislation I consider critical to creating a positive environment for space development -- the Commercial Space Act of 1997."  

Paragraph #2: Choose two to three of these points  

• the Commercial Space Act of 1997 is tightly focused and crafted to ensure swift passage 
• its timely passage is important to fueling new hi-tech jobs and ensuring America maintains its leadership in the development of space commerce 
• the bill contains provisions in two areas of particular interest to space advocates: directing NASA to study commercial possibilities for the International Space Station, and amending the Commercial Space Launch Act to license commercial space transportation vehicles to reenter Earth's atmosphere and return space payloads to Earth 
• the bill is needed to help create an environment friendly to commercial development of space 
• the Commercial Space Act of 1997 contains essential items for promoting a healthy commercial space industry; it removes outdated references and streamlines regulations 
• the Commercial Space Act of 1997 deserves expeditious introduction and passage 

"Help us make sure that this bill does not meet the same fate as last year's Omnibus Commercialization Act, which was never introduced in the Senate. I urge you to take action now and introduce a companion bill to H.R. 1702 -- the Commercial Space Act of 1997 -- in the Senate before the end of July."  

Final Paragraph:  

"Thank you for helping America move one step closer to promoting a stable business environment for the commercial space industry. I eagerly await the news that the Commercial Space Act of 1997 is making an appearance in the Senate."  

Senator McCain's address:  

The Honorable John McCain 
Chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation 
U.S. Senate 
Russell 241 
Washington, DC 20510 
e-mail: senator_mccain@mccain.senate.gov  

Please cc: your McCain letter or e-mail to:  

The Honorable Ernest Hollings 
Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Commerce 
Russell 125 
Washington, DC 20510 
e-mail: senator@hollings.senate.gov  

The Honorable Bill Frist 
Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space 
Dirksen 565 
Washington, DC 20510 
e-mail: senator_frist@frist.senate.gov  

The Honorable John D. Rockefeller, IV 
Ranking Member, Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space 
Hart 109 
Washington, DC 20510 
e-mail: senator@rockefeller.senate.gov  

If possible, please copy your communication to NSS HQ. Copies of written letters should be sent to "Commercial Space Act," National Space Society, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20003. E-mail messages can be copied to "nsshq@nss.org"  

You may also wish to copy your letter to your own senators if they have displayed an interest in space issues, especially senators in California, Florida and Texas.  

To view the text of H.R. 1702, go to http://www.nss.org/alerts/hr1702.html