Space Preservation Act of 2001 (Introduced in House)
HR 2977 IH
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2977
To preserve the cooperative, peaceful uses of space for the
benefit of all humankind by permanently prohibiting the basing of weapons
in space by the United States, and to require the President to take
action to adopt and implement a world treaty banning space-based weapons.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 2, 2001
Mr. KUCINICH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services,
and International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To preserve the cooperative, peaceful uses of space for the
benefit of all humankind by permanently prohibiting the basing of weapons
in space by the United States, and to require the President to take
action to adopt and implement a world treaty banning space-based weapons.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Space Preservation Act of 2001'.
SEC. 2. REAFFIRMATION OF POLICY ON THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE IN SPACE.
Congress reaffirms the policy expressed in section 102(a) of the National Aeronautics
and Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2451(a)), stating that it `is the policy
of the United States that activities in space should be devoted to peaceful
purposes for the benefit of all mankind.'.
SEC. 3. PERMANENT BAN ON BASING OF WEAPONS IN SPACE.
(1) implement a permanent ban on space-based weapons of the United States
and remove from space any existing space-based weapons of the United States;
and
(2) immediately order the permanent termination of research and development,
testing, manufacturing, production, and deployment of all space-based weapons
of the United States and their components.
SEC. 4. WORLD AGREEMENT BANNING SPACE-BASED WEAPONS.
The President shall direct the United States representatives to the United
Nations and other international organizations to immediately work toward
negotiating, adopting, and implementing a world agreement banning space-based
weapons.
SEC. 5. REPORT.
The President shall submit to Congress not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, a report on--
(1) the implementation of the permanent ban on space-based weapons required
by section 3; and
(2) progress toward negotiating, adopting, and implementing the agreement
described in section 4.
SEC. 6. NON SPACE-BASED WEAPONS ACTIVITIES.
Nothing in this Act may be construed as prohibiting the use of funds for--
(2) space research and development;
(3) testing, manufacturing, or production that is not related to space-based
weapons or systems; or
(4) civil, commercial, or defense activities (including communications, navigation,
surveillance, reconnaissance, early warning, or remote sensing) that are
not related to space-based weapons or systems.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
(1) The term `space' means all space extending upward from an altitude greater
than 60 kilometers above the surface of the earth and any celestial body
in such space.
(2)(A) The terms `weapon' and `weapons system' mean a device capable of any
of the following:
(i) Damaging or destroying an object (whether in outer space, in the atmosphere,
or on earth) by--
(I) firing one or more projectiles to collide with that object;
(II) detonating one or more explosive devices in close proximity to that
object;
(III) directing a source of energy (including molecular or atomic energy,
subatomic particle beams, electromagnetic radiation, plasma, or extremely
low frequency (ELF) or ultra low frequency (ULF) energy radiation)
against that object; or
(IV) any other unacknowledged or as yet undeveloped means.
(ii) Inflicting death or injury on, or damaging or destroying, a person
(or the biological life, bodily health, mental health, or physical and
economic well-being of a person)--
(I) through the use of any of the means described in clause (i) or subparagraph
(B);
(II) through the use of land-based, sea-based, or space-based systems
using radiation, electromagnetic, psychotronic, sonic, laser, or other
energies directed at individual persons or targeted populations for
the purpose of information war, mood management, or mind control of
such persons or populations; or
(III) by expelling chemical or biological agents in the vicinity of a
person.
(B) Such terms include exotic weapons systems such as--
(i) electronic, psychotronic, or information weapons;
(iii) high altitude ultra low frequency weapons systems;
(iv) plasma, electromagnetic, sonic, or ultrasonic weapons;
(v) laser weapons systems;
(vi) strategic, theater, tactical, or extraterrestrial weapons; and
(vii) chemical, biological, environmental, climate, or tectonic weapons.
(C) The term `exotic weapons systems' includes weapons designed to damage
space or natural ecosystems (such as the ionosphere and upper atmosphere)
or climate, weather, and tectonic systems with the purpose of inducing
damage or destruction upon a target population or region on earth or in
space.
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