House Appropriations Commitee FY 2013: CASIS and ISS (excerpt)

page 71: “An important element in the decision making about the long term status of ISS is whether it can demonstrate sufficient research value to justify the continuation of its operating budget. Currently, the fraction of the overall ISS budget devoted to research is extremely small, and plans for leveraging outside funding through the ISS National Lab are moving slowly because the National Lab’s manager, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), is still establishing its management and governance structures. If the ISS is going to demonstrate its long-term value as a research facility and technology testbed, all research-related planning and support will need to be executed with greater urgency to maximize utilization of the space. NASA is directed to take all necessary steps to do this, including providing appropriate technical and management support for the ISS National Lab.”