YALE MODEL CONGRESS 2013
Blue Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee
Simon Brewer
Yale University
Author
Delegation
Title of Bill: An Act to Develop a Permanent, Scientific Station on the Moon
BE IT ENACTED BY THE YALE MODEL CONGRESS
Preamble: Whereas space is “the final frontier” unexplored by mankind; whereas investment in
space exploration programs has produced important technological innovations for all
of mankind in the past1 and may reasonably be expected to do so in the future;
whereas treaties focused on a Cold War mindset should not constrain the United
States from exploring and colonizing space; and whereas continued ecological
damage to the planet Earth may necessitate, as some future point, the evacuation of
humanity into space for extended periods of time; this Act will allocate appropriate
funding to NASA to development a permanent, manned, lunar scientific station.
Section 1: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will receive $50
billion over 7 years, to be used to fund the development and establishment of a
permanent United States scientific base on the moon.
Subsection A: NASA shall establish a timetable to complete this mission by 2025,
although it may, with the advice and consent of the NASA Advisory Council, extend the
mission deadline to 2030.
Subsection B: The NASA Administrator shall testify annually before the House
Subcommittee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Subcommittee on
Science and Space in regards to the status of the mission.
Section 2: Following the establishment of the settlement on the moon, NASA shall make
available any and all technologies it has established for the development of the base
to private corporations with the intent of establishing permanent, civilian settlements
on the moon.
Subsection A: Any such permanent civilian settlements developed using NASA
technology, or within a 600 mile radius of the NASA scientific base, will remain
protectorates of the United States and subject to its jurisdiction in all matters whatsoever.
1
"Apollo Spinoffs." NASA Spinoff. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 01 May 2011. Web. 27 Oct
2013. <http://spinoff.nasa.gov/apollo.htm>.
Subsection B: When the population of such settlements has reached 13,000 persons, the
settlements may petition this Congress for induction to the United States as an
independent state.
Section 3: The United States shall withdraw from the Treaty on Principles Governing the
Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon
and Other Celestial Bodies (“Outer Space Treaty”).
Section 4: Funding for this bill shall be taken from allocations to the National Endowment for
the Humanities.
Section 5: This bill shall go into effect October 1, 2014.