November 19, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10637 

the panel uncovered what they believed 

were fundamental structural and organizational flaws with the Federal Government’s space sector. Such flaws include major management problems, 

poor communication among and between involved agencies, a lack of 

proper oversight and direction, a lack 

of expert professional personnel, and a 

host of others. The panel also recognized a scary reality—space technology 

is rapidly proliferating to all corners of 

the Earth, and America is not keeping 

up with its space competitors. This 

proliferation, combined with our space 

industry bogged down by aging legacy 

space projects that take vital resources 

away from newer, more modern 

projects, has taken its toll on our competitive edge with China and other 

emerging nations. 

Although some of these and other deficiencies were recognized and exposed 

by the 2001 Space Commission, drastic 

measures to adequately deal with the 

problems uncovered were not proposed 

and undertaken. This panel, however, 

took an alternate route and recommended bold proposals to redirect 

and radically improve our national 

space agenda. The panel recommends, 

and again I agree, that America needs 

a top-to-bottom overhaul to restore the 

vitality of our space programs and regain and sustain the competitive advantages afforded the United States by 

our preeminence in space. In no uncertain terms, the panel outlined a bold 

new vision for the future of America’s 

role in space. It laid out four suggestions of significant substance to restructure our approach to space and realign our defense, intelligence, and 

commercial priorities as they relate to 

space. 

First, it calls for the President to 

create and implement a truly national 

space strategy. The President should 

announce to the American people that 

he is updating and modernizing America’s space program immediately and 

elevating its priority status to the top 

tier of the national agenda. 

The panel recommends the President 

reestablish the National Space Council 

in the Executive Office of the President, under the leadership of the National Security Advisor, to implement 

the new strategy and coordinate its activities with the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, 

NASA, and other responsible agencies. 

This will provide one of the President’s 

top advisers with the power to assign 

responsibilities, set priorities, and 

break through the barriers to cooperation that have stymied progress on key 

space programs in the past. 

Second, the panel believes that no 

one is really in charge of the national 

space agenda. They discovered that in 

the midst of so much bureaucracy and 

competing authorities, regrettably 

there has been no one at the helm. This 

needs to change. 

The authorities and responsibilities 

for all Government space programs are 

spread widely throughout the Pentagon 

and within various intelligence agencies. Therefore, the panel recommends 

the creation of a National Security 

Space Authority that will be responsible to the Secretary of Defense and 

the Director of National Intelligence. 

The proposed arrangement is needed to 

remedy the ruinous deficiencies in the 

current system, including the frequent 

inability to reconcile budget priorities 

and the common failure to ensure that 

innovative acquisition program requirements are affordable and integrated across military and intelligence 

space domains. 

Third, the panel recommends to strip 

the National Reconnaissance Office and 

the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center of their status as traditional, independent entities and incorporate their personnel and functions, 

as well as the functions of other parts 

of the Air Force Space Command, into 

a single National Security Space Organization. Under unified leadership, this 

organization could allow all the space 

experts to work more effectively together. The panel recommends this 

path because it most effectively utilizes the scarce talent available to 

achieve our Nation’s goals in space. 

Under this type of organizational 

structure, the Government’s space 

management team can focus on installing best engineering and acquisition 

practices, including early systems engineering and cost estimating. I am not 

sure I agree yet with this recommendation, but I think it does warrant serious consideration by the Congress. 

It is true that the continual problem 

of space acquisition program delays, 

cost overruns, and cancellations has 

drained resources and caused America 

to rely heavily on satellite constellations that have matured beyond their 

original design lives. This is simply unacceptable, and I think the panel is 

correct when they say that small modifications to the status quo, which have 

been proposed time and again in the 

past, are not enough. A new and innovative organizational structure is a 

good idea, but the details of the panel’s 

third recommendation need to be vetted before I can lend my full support. 

Finally, the panel suggests that the 

intelligence community and each of 

the military branches adopt and execute strategies for identifying, selecting, educating, training, and managing 

a sufficient number of Government experts and professionals to support the 

country’s space acquisition obligations. The careers of these space acquisition and technical professionals 

should be designed and administered so 

that they can provide continuity for 

the execution of long-term projects, 

while remaining eligible and competitive for career advancement. 

It is unrealistic to expect that we can 

modernize our space strategy and succeed in developing complex space systems without enough technically capable and sufficiently experienced Government scientists, engineers, and acquisition experts that are immersed in 

the space arena and assigned to see 

projects through to completion. These 

types of professionals are critical to 

the success of our future endeavors in 

space. 

Throughout my time in the Congress 

I have fully supported science-related 

education. This support includes space, 

defense, and national security studies 

as well. For example, I have supported 

funding requests for the Center for 

Space and Defense Studies at the U.S. 

Air Force Academy. The mission of 

this center is to build and define space 

policy studies curriculum for the undergraduate cadets. I have long supported the Center for Geosciences and 

Atmospheric Research at my alma 

mater, Colorado State University. This 

center is a national resource for the 

Department of Defense in the areas of 

atmospheric and hydrologic research, 

which are both critical to our national 

security. 

America needs more engineers, physicists, rocket scientists, mathematicians, and the like. We need them now 

and in the coming decades more than 

we ever have in the past. The future of 

our national security and defense capabilities rests with our ability to recruit, train, and equip more and more 

Americans with the critical knowledge 

and know-how of the hard sciences. 

The first step is making this type of 

education a top national priority, and 

it is my hope that America’s future 

leaders will do so. 

Mr. President, I appreciate all four 

and fully support three of the panel’s 

suggestions for the improvement of our 

national space strategy. In my opinion, 

if we fail to act on these recommendations, we face the possibility that our 

preeminence in space will erode to the 

point at which we will no longer enjoy 

a significant competitive national security advantage in an all-important 

global arena. 

Along with the American people, I 

am indebted to the panel for their hard 

and thoughtful work on this study. 

Their discoveries and suggestions for 

improvement are invaluable. It is my 

hope that the next Congress and the 

next administration will take a serious 

look at this study and craft an aggressive and coherent strategy for America’s future presence in space. 

f 

COLORADO DRUG INVESTIGATORS 

ASSOCIATION 

Mr. ALLARD. Mr, President, 

throughout the past 3 years the Colorado Drug Investigators Association, 

DIA, has united peace officers and 

other professionals who share a common interest in illegal and illicit drug 

enforcement. Through the leadership of 

State president Ernest Martinez, State 

vice president, Jerry Peters, regional 

vice presidents David Arcady, Rick 

Needham, Brian Roman, Rob Pride, 

Kevin Hathaway, at-large members 

Janelle Crain, Mechele Berge, Sandra 

Evans, Rick Millwright, Gary Graham, 

Kelly Horton, Jim Welton, Francis 


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S10638 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 19, 2008 

Gonzales, and Ron Hollingshead, the 

Colorado Drug Investigators Association continues to unite into one organization all Colorado peace officers and 

individuals committed to protecting 

the State from all drug-related crime. 

This organization provides comprehensive counternarcotics training for all 

members in all aspects of drug enforcement and continues to educate and recommend legislation favorable to effective drug enforcement in Colorado. It 

recognizes the critical importance of 

information exchange and actively facilitates this communication between 

members of the association on the 

movements of drug violators and new 

and innovative techniques used by either the criminals or law enforcement. 

In addition, the Colorado Drug Investigators Association, through cultural, 

legislative, political, fraternal, educational, charitable, welfare and social 

activities, fosters an atmosphere of cooperation and information sharing 

among all law enforcement in Colorado, private industry and the public. I 

believe the CDIA represents a valuable 

tool in the fight against drug-related 

crime and express my appreciation to 

all association members for their commitment to the safety and security for 

the citizens of Colorado. 

f 

LABOR DAY 

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, 

Labor Day is our opportunity to celebrate the millions of American workers 

who have given, and continue to give, 

so much of themselves to make our Nation great. I am happy to have had the 

opportunity to celebrate this Labor 

Day in Racine, WV, with many old 

friends. Today, on the holiday especially devoted to the social and economic achievements of the American 

workforce. I would like to thank all of 

the miners, teachers, nurses, service 

technicians, firefighters, police, repairmen, and all those who dedicate their 

lives to making their communities and 

their country a better place. As summer is winding down and children are 

preparing to go back to school, we 

should all take a moment to appreciate 

what working Americans do for us. 

Honest, hard-working people, with 

the core American values of faith and 

family, are what make West Virginia 

such a wonderful place to live and call 

home. Miners work long shifts, miles 

under the ground, often in tight spaces 

with frigid water up to their knees, to 

get the coal that provides 50 percent of 

our Nation’s electricity. Yet people 

rarely think of that when they flip on 

the light switch. Teachers spend much 

of their own personal time preparing 

lesson plans and finding creative ways 

to teach our next generation. They always go above and beyond the call of 

duty for their students. Those in public 

service work day in and day out to get 

Social Security checks processed and 

in the mail on time, to manage tax returns, or to deliver basic health services to our citizens. I applaud each and 

every one of these Americans. 

I am glad Congress succeeded, finally, this year in raising the minimum wage to $6.55, to help our working families. Increasing the minimum 

wage so it is a living wage is something 

I have advocated since 1998, and now all 

of our workers will get the increase 

they need and deserve to help make 

ends meet in this struggling economy. 

This Labor Day I am especially aware 

of the need to change the direction of 

our country and that has to start with 

turning around our economy. It is unfair for hard-working Americans to 

have to deal with stagnant wages and 

rising costs for gas, food, and health 

care with no help. The minimum wage 

will continue to rise until it reaches 

$7.25 in 2009. 

These workers are the heart and soul 

of West Virginia. Opportunities do not 

come easily to them. They work hard 

every day to get the things they need 

for their families—gas, school supplies, 

and maybe new sneakers or a pair of 

jeans for the next school year. Before 

the rise of unions, we did not enjoy a 

40-hour work week, the benefits of Social Security, or the right to organize. 

But West Virginians always fought for 

the American dream. They have a high 

regard for quality and strive for excellence in everything that they do. In an 

unfortunate Forbes survey, West Virginia was listed as one of the least desirable states in which to do business. 

But that is only because some companies do not yet know the men and 

women that make up West Virginia’s 

workforce; they do not realize that 

West Virginia’s future and potential is 

about more than just coal. They do not 

see the small business owners, the 

nurses and doctors, the educators, the 

entrepreneurs, the manufacturers, and 

artists who keep our State moving and 

make it so special. They must not have 

heard that companies from all over the 

world such as DuPont, Union Carbide, 

and Phone Poulenc have put plants in 

West Virginia and tapped into our dedicated work force. Northrop Grumman, 

MPL Corporation, Orrick, Herrington, 

and Sutcliffe, that’s the real West Virginia—with a bright future fueled by 

all its abundant resources, the most 

precious of which are the men and 

women of our workforce. Our Toyota 

plant is the fastest growing plant in 

the history of Toyota Motor Company. 

It has been named the plant with the 

most productive workers in all of 

North America 5 years in a row. This is 

a testament to West Virginia employees’ unmatched work ethic. 

As we celebrate Labor Day, we need 

to remember that it is the commitment and diligence of our workers that 

makes us great. We as West Virginians 

are fighters, always have been, always 

will be, but even fighters need a day 

off. West Virginians have earned a day 

of rest. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO BRENDAN O’CONNOR 

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, as we 

continue to debate national strategy 

and the way ahead in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is one thing that is not debatable, and that is the courage and 

valor of our troops. Today, I wish to 

honor one of those brave troops, MSgt 

Brendan O’Connor, a medic in the Special Forces of the U.S. Army. 

Master Sergeant O’Connor distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action during a fierce battle in 

Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, when 

his small detachment engaged an estimated 200 Taliban fighters on June 24, 

2006. For his heroism, Master Sergeant 

O’Connor, who held the rank of sergeant first class at the time of the battle, was honored with the Nation’s second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross. 

After awarding the Distinguished 

Service Cross to Brendan, ADM Eric 

Olson, the head of U.S. Special Operations Command, hailed the contributions of the Army’s Special Forces and 

said, ‘‘Master Sergeant Brendan O’Connor exemplifies the spirit of these warriors.’’ 

Leading a quick reaction force during 

a mission against Taliban leaders, Master Sergeant O’Connor and his team 

found themselves outnumbered and 

surrounded by hundreds of Taliban 

fighters in one of the most hotly contested areas of Afghanistan. After 

calmly maneuvering his force through 

enemy Taliban positions, Master Sergeant O’Connor crawled over 150 yards 

alone through enemy machine-gun fire 

across an open field to rescue two 

wounded comrades. Rallying and motivating his severely outnumbered team 

throughout a day-long battle, he saved 

the lives of 21 soldiers and prevented 

his detachment’s destruction while inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. 

The heroism of Brendan O’Connor 

and his team in Afghanistan received 

national media attention on the CBS 

News program ‘‘60 Minutes,’’ which 

aired a segment on April 20 of this 

year, ‘‘Ambush in Afghanistan.’’ 

Brendan O’Connor comes from a long 

and distinguished family history of 

military service to our Nation, with 

deep roots in the U.S. Army and at 

West Point. Brendan’s father, LTC 

Mortimer O’Connor, who graduated 

from West Point in 1953, was killed in 

action in Vietnam in 1968 while leading 

men into battle as commander of the 

1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry, in the 

famed ‘‘Big Red One,’’ the oldest continuously serving division in the U.S. 

Army. 

A true ‘‘warrior-poet’’, Mort O’Connor was not only decorated several 

times for valor on the battlefield, but 

taught English at West Point and 

earned a graduate degree in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania. A remembrance of Mort 

O’Connor in a March 1978 West Point 

Alumni publication recalled his spirit 

on the athletic fields as a young cadet: 

When victorious he would exultantly claim 

to be descended from ancient Irish warrior 

kings. And it may be true, for he had in him 

a wild romanticism, a tragic lilt of heart, 

which only the Irish have. 


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