2011 Federal Agenda

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama

To the Members of the Alabama Congressional Delegation and their staff: We are grateful for the leadership of the Alabama Congressional delegation and their staffs that have allowed our region to become a world leader in science and technology.

The changing political dynamic playing out in Washington, D.C. will have an impact on our region. Key national defense and space exploration programs will compete in an environment that is increasingly focused on maximizing spending cuts. In this environment, it will be essential that our delegation have the information that they need to support the local federal programs with significant national and local impact.

The Chamber’s 2011 Federal Agenda has a new format. The Agenda is considerably shorter and more focused on the region’s most critical federal issues. Additional information regarding these issues and a number of other important federal programs and issues that have significant local and national impact is included in an accompanying Issue Book.

Thank you from the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

U.S. Human Space Flight & Exploration Policy Global competition for preeminence in space has challenged the once-dominant U.S. position. The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 calls for the development of a Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Space Launch System by 2016 to explore beyond Low Earth Orbit, and to serve as a backup transportation system for the International Space Station. More than 2,200 local jobs are currently supporting the Space Shuttle and Constellation programs. A smooth transition to the follow-on Space Launch System and recognition of MSFC’s National leadership role in space transportation systems development is critical to a healthy MSFC and surrounding Redstone community.

Requested Action: • Support adequate funding for the Space Launch System and Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle as defined in the 2010 Authorization Act. • Ensure that the Space Launch System is capable of delivering at least 130 metric tons to Low Earth Orbit, is in service by 2016, develops the core and upper stages in parallel, and leverages Space Shuttle and Constellation Program contracts, investments, workforce, industrial base, and capabilities to the maximum extent possible.

• Support Marshall’s leadership role in the management of the Space Launch System and its National role in enabling future government and commercial space transportation systems.

Insourcing Conversion of work performed for the government by contractors into civil servant positions has become known as “insourcing.” Secretary of Defense Gates earlier directed the Services and Department of Defense to insource some 17,000 positions.

The Secretary has since rescinded that directive; however, some Services and DoD Agencies have continued to execute insourcing plans. Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, called for a prohibition on further insourcing absent direct guidance

from his office. We applaud Secretary McHugh for recognizing the flaws in the insourcing initiative which failed to provide proper analysis or full cost comparison data to justify insourcing decisions. Small businesses have been disproportionately affected by insourcing decisions, and in some instances have been forced out of business.

Requested Action: The Chamber urges the Congress to pass legislation which: • Provides a moratorium on insourcing until cost analysis procedures are implemented and prohibits the use of arbitrary, broad numerical quotas for insourcing.

• Requires an impact analysis prior to finalizing insourcing decisions. The analysis must include a justification for why the function should be insourced, all relevant short-term and long-term costs associated with the conversion, and an assessment of the impact on small businesses and jobs creation and retention.

• Adds transparency to the government’s insourcing decision making process.

• Establishes a process by which private sector firms conducting work designated for insourcing can challenge the agency’s or department’s decision.

• Requires GAO to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the Department of Defense cost comparison methodology to determine whether it is a viable tool for DoD to make cost comparisons related to insourcing decisions.

• Conforms DoD policy to civilian agency policy that requires agencies to give special management attention to contracts that include functions closely associated with inherently governmental functions.

Small Satellites Initiative The ability to launch low-cost, mission-specific payloads, on-demand will drive future spacecraft development. Huntsville took several important steps in 2010 to enhance its role as a leader in the design, development and testing of small satellites with

Federal AGENDA, continued the success of SMDC-ONE, the U. S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s nine pound nanosatellite, and NASA MSFC’s 400 pound FASTSAT microsatellite. Both SMDC-ONE and FASTSAT resulted from innovative collaborations among area government, industry and academia and justify expanding the region’s role in tactical, theater and regional spacecraft. All of the key enabling technologies, systems engineering, and propulsion expertise required for the design, development, launch and operation of nanosatellites, microsatellites and small spacecraft constellations reside in the Huntsville area. Army, NASA MSFC, local government and industry are committed to an enduring relationship that synergistically combines this expertise.

Requested Actions: • The Chamber requests that the delegation work with DoD and NASA to support budgets for the development of responsive space capabilities, including nanosatellites, and microsatellites, their accompanying launch systems, and key enabling technologies.

• The Chamber requests that language be passed into law establishing SMDC as the Center for nanosatellite and microsatellite development, “smart phone in space”, and technology to serve the Army ground component tactical warfighter.

SMDC shall be responsible for the development, launch, and on-orbit control of nano and micro satellites. A report to Congress should be due no later than six months from passage.

• The Chamber also requests that SMDC be assigned the responsibility for development of a dedicated launcher system, to place nanosatellites precisely where and when the dismounted soldier needs them.

Cyber Huntsville Initiative The U.S. has a very heavy reliance on computer networks, not only in DoD, but also in power grid, banking, and other industries. Additionally, there is a rapidly-emerging role of cyberspace as a warfighting domain. The Cyber Huntsville focus will be on research and development, with emphasis on space and missile systems. The Huntsville area is uniquely qualified to solve these and other challenges. Growing regional cyber capabilities would bring needed diversification to Huntsville’s S&T business portfolio and add stability to the region.

Requested Actions: Support for establishment of the Huntsville area as a primary provider of Cyber Research and Development.

Provide support to the following Huntsville efforts to jump-start Cyber Huntsville’s progress and its national-level contribution:

forensics, and malicious code analysis to focus on Space, Missile Defense, and Aviation; • Development of initial cyber curriculum and training for the trainers to help them to better educate the DoD acquisition workforce so they can more effectively and efficiently contract for secure warfighting systems; • Performance of a feasibility study and development of a plan of alternatives to the mission-limiting and very expensive recurring costs of communications links between Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park.

Infrastructure The economic success of our region is reliant upon effective transportation networks that can efficiently move commuters, freight, and services that are vital for continued growth and development. We urge Congress to develop a new highway bill that focuses upon metropolitan mobility, provides for an equitable distribution of highway and transit funds in metropolitan areas, and does not increase the local share for federally-matched road and transit projects.

The Chairman of the Madison County Commission and the Mayors of Huntsville and Madison have jointly endorsed the following key projects currently included in the State’s Transportation Improvement Program as the top road priorities for the region: • US 72 East/ARC Corridor V: Funding be allocated and appropriated through the ARC budget as soon as possible to fund this much needed corridor.

• US 231 North and South Overpasses and Corridor Improvements: Funding for the construction of the scheduled improvements at Memorial Parkway and Mastin Lake Road.

Funding is also requested for the preliminary engineering, right of way acquisition, and construction of the planned capacity projects required for Memorial Parkway and Mountain Gap Road and Winchester Road.

• Martin Road Widening: Fund the widening of Martin Road from Zierdt Road to Laracy Drive.

• Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd/Northern Bypass - Interchange at Memorial Parkway to Highway 72 East: Funding for this construction project.

• Research Park Boulevard from I-565 to North of US 72: Funding for this improvement project.

• Continuation of Supply Chain Risk Management to help ensure vulnerabilities are not being introduced into U.S. systems by the supply chain;

• US 72 West from Providence Main to County Line Road: Improvements to US 72 West using National Highway System funds.

• Procurement of hardware and software and creation of an initial pilot program for cyber modeling and simulation to focus on Space, Missile Defense, and High Altitude;

• Winchester Road from Naugher Road to New Market Road: Provide funding to construct improvements on the next phase of Winchester Road.

• Procurement of hardware and software and creation of an initial pilot program for cyber testing, computer and network

• Wall Triana and Highway 53 Improvements