Date: 2010-03-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise in support of NASA programs across the country and to express my concerns about the Administrations proposal to cancel NASAs Constellation Program. which includes the Orion Crew Capsule. the Altair Lunar Lander. and the Ares I and Ares V rockets. These programs. which together comprise our human spaceflight program. were authorized in both 2005 and 2008 by Republican and Democratic Congresses respectively. It is under the Constellation program. that NASA is currently developing new launch vehicles and spacecraft capable of travel to the moon. Mars and other destinations. Not only does cancelling the Constellation Program jeopardize Americas leadership role in human space exploration. but it will have detrimental effects on our economy and national security. Take. for example. the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Texas. The Johnson Space Center has the lead to manage the Constellation Program and several of its major elements. including the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Altair Lunar Lander. Without Constellation. the Johnson Space Center could lose anywhere from 4.000 to 7.000 hightech jobs. If the JSC loses 4.000 direct jobs. an additional 2.315 indirect jobs would be lost. totaling 6.315. loss of income and expenditures locally would be over $567 million. If the JSC loses 7.000 direct jobs. an additional 4.052 indirect jobs would be lost. totaling 11.052. loss of income and expenditures locally would total almost $1 billion. When speaking of the decision to cancel the Constellation Program. Administrator Bolden stated that "NASA intends to work with the Congress to make this transition smooth and effective. working responsibly on behalf of the Taxpayers." To the contrary. I believe that the best use of taxpayers money is to continue the investment in NASA to build Americas scientific future. That future will create jobs. Finally. I would like to reiterate that the present Administrations plan for the Constellation Program would cause drastic job loss across America and would place America in a behind the edge position as it relates to competitiveness in scientific research. NASA and the space industry are critical to Houstons economic success in both the short and long term. According to the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. NASA accounts for nearly 16.800 direct federal jobs and serves as the engine for another 3.100 civilian jobs that together supply more than $2.5 billion in payroll into Houstons regional economy. As you are aware. the Johnson Space Center is the primary location for training Astronauts for spaceflights and this move. yet. the proposed budget will effectively cancel Americas human spaceflight program. In his statement announcing NASAs budget. Administrator Bolden stressed that changes in the FY 2011 budget would be "good for NASA. great for the American workforce. and essential for our nations future prosperity." While I seek the same objectives. I strongly disagree with the closing of this project and I believe it will hurt Americas scientific progress. Additionally. the aerospace industry would lose as many as 20.00030.000 jobs nationally in either of these scenarios. Given our current economic downturn. we cannot take the possibility of these job losses lightly and the Johnson Space Center is just one example of what the cancellation of this program would do to other NASA centers nationally. It will take years for the commercial spaceflight industry to get up to speed to reach the level of competence that exists at NASA today. Our government has already invested literally years and billions of dollars into this program. We should build upon these investments and not abandon them. Our country can support the commercial spaceflight industry. but not at the expense of our human spaceflight program. which for years has inspired future generations and driven technology that enhances our quality of life. This technology is crucial to our national security. NASA conducts aeronautics research to address aviation safety. air traffic control. noise and. emissions reductions and fuel efficiency. NASAs contribution to our knowledge of air and water supports improved decision making for natural resource management and emergency response. thus enabling us to better respond to future homeland security threats. Knowledge of Earths water cycle is a critical first step in protecting our water supply. water flows over the Earths surface in oceans. lakes. and streams. and is particularly vulnerable to attack. NASA sensors provide a wealth of information about the water cycle. and contributes to improving our ability to monitor water resources and water quality from space. we must also protect the quality and safety of the air we breathe. airborne contaminants can pose danger to human health. and chemical. nuclear. radiological. and biological attacks are plausible threats against which we can protect. Thus. join me in my efforts to restore funding for the Constellation to the FY 2011 budget for the following reasons: (1) Elimination of the Constellation program. will present Homeland security implications for Cyberspace. critical infrastructure. and Intelligence community of the United States. (2) Elimination of the Constellation program will compromise the effectiveness of the International Space Station as it relates to the strategic importance of space station research. and intelligence. (3) Continuation of NASAs Constellation program is crucial to improving national security. climate. and research in science and medicine. It is my hope. Madam Speaker. that this Congress will continue to support NASAs Constellation Program and to support balanced energy policies that promote economic growth and will help us meet our clean energy goals.