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General Background & Messaging: CSE is comprised of a diverse group of <br />small and large business representatives, "Gen Y" university students and <br />teachers, individual citizens, and county/municipal officials and employees who <br />support the cause of continued American leadership in human space exploration. <br />2011 marked the 20th annual trip of CSE to Washington, D.C. for meetings with <br />Congress. CSE's bottom-line message was to voice support for a robust NASA - <br />led human space exploration program which is vital to America's economy, <br />security and global leadership. <br />CSE promoted the following positions consistent with the 2010 NASA <br />Authorization Act: <br />• Utilize the International Space Station as a national lab through at least <br />2020 <br />• Develop a Space Launch System as a way to continue human space <br />exploration and leverage investments made in the Ares launch systems <br />• Develop a Multi -Purpose Crew Vehicle for deep space missions using the <br />Orion project's human safety features, designs and systems <br />• Utilize existing contracts, investments, institutional knowledge, skilled <br />workforce and industrial base <br />• Develop commercial space systems for low Earth orbit operations <br />Travelers Orientation & Congressional Reception: Jeff Bingham, <br />Professional Staff of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation <br />Committee addressed the CSE participants at an opening night welcome and <br />orientation session on Tuesday, May 31, to discuss the status of NASA's budget, <br />the history behind the 2010 NASA Authorization Act and prospects for the future <br />of America's space exploration program. <br />Eight Members of Congress, as well as many Congressional staff, participated in <br />a reception hosted by the CSE on Wednesday evening, June 1. Attendees were: <br />1. Rep. <br />Kevin Brady (R -TX -8) <br />2. Rep. <br />Mo Brooks (R -AL -5) <br />3. Rep. <br />Bill Flores (R -TX -17) <br />4. Rep. <br />Gene Green (D -TX -29) <br />5. Rep. <br />Ralph Hall (R -TX -4) — Chairman of the House Science, Space & <br />Technology Committee <br />6. Rep. <br />Shelia Jackson Lee (D -TX -18) <br />7. Rep. <br />Pete Olson (R -TX -22) <br />8. Rep. <br />Lamar Smith (R -TX -21) <br />In addition, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R -TX -1) again conducted an extensive and <br />fascinating tour of the U.S. Capitol for the Citizens group on Thursday, June 2. <br />