To urge the President of the United States and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to select the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, for public display of a space shuttle orbiter.

WHEREAS, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) intends to select a limited number of museums for the display of the space shuttle orbiters that will be retired at the conclusion of the space shuttle program. The National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, would be an excellent choice for the display of a space shuttle orbiter; and

WHEREAS, The Museum, the world's oldest and largest museum of military aviation, is the depository for the Air Force's National Historical Collection and features more than 400 aerospace vehicles, including Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space capsules. With 1.3 million visitors each year, the Museum is the most visited free tourist destination in Ohio and is one of the most visited in the country; and

WHEREAS, The Museum is ready to accommodate a space shuttle orbiter with one million square feet of climate-controlled exhibit space and an adjacent runway that is approved for a landing of the shuttle carrier aircraft with a shuttle. In addition, the Museum employs professional aerospace vehicle restoration staff who are experienced in working with hazardous aerospace materials such as those found on the shuttle and who will ensure the preservation of the shuttle to the highest museum standards; and

WHEREAS, The Museum is located near Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation and the home of the Wright Brothers, and in the National Aviation Heritage Area, an area designated by Congress that includes the Armstrong Air and Space Museum, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, and National Aviation Hall of Fame. Finally, the Museum is easily accessible from major population centers and is within a 600-mile radius of 61% of the United States population; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Defense, especially the Department of the Air Force, collaborated extensively with NASA's space shuttle program, including influencing the basic shuttle design, providing many highly skilled shuttle astronauts, and saving the program in lean budget years during its development; and

WHEREAS, The Secretary of the Air Force has requested that the NASA Administrator transfer a space shuttle orbiter to the Air Force for placement in the Air Force's National Historical Collection through interagency transfer using existing statutes and regulations. This transfer will ensure that a taxpayer-funded space shuttle orbiter will be kept under the ownership and stewardship of the United States government and the American people; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 129th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, conclude that it is in the interest of the American people for a retired space shuttle orbiter to be preserved and exhibited at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 129th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge the President of the United States and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to honor the request of the Department of the Air Force for an interagency transfer of an operational space shuttle orbiter so that it can be displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force as a national tribute to the American spirit of space exploration and to the indelible partnership between NASA and the Department of the Air Force, which helped make the space shuttle program possible; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate, the members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news media of Ohio.