Date: 2004-01-28
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H

of. Florida. Mr. Speaker. for the purpose of debate only. I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts . pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. Durink consideration of this resolution. all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. Mr. Speaker. House Resolution 520 is an open rule that provides for the consideration of S. 610. the NASA Workforce Flexibility Act of 2003. The rule provides for 1 hour of debate. with 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Science. and 20 minutes equally divided between the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform. The rule also provides one motion to recommit. with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker. following the extraordinarily tragic Shuttle Columbia disaster. it was imperative that the United States take a deep look at its space program. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board and NASA continue to address needed safety concerns. but I think we must take steps to further innovation and scientific research. find new frontiers and unveil endless possibilities. I believe NASA has undergone a positive transformation in recent weeks. .With the stunning successes of the Mars rovers and President Bush announcing new longterm goals for manned space exploration. our national desire to comprehend the nature of our solar system and our universe has been reinvigorated. The underlying legislation provides NASA additional tools to recruit. train and keep the most talented scientists and engineers. The legislation authorizes NASA to offer needed incentives to valued current and prospective employees. the same as most major corporations and research institutions would offer to compete. When the United States goes to space. Mr. Speaker. we need the brightest and the best in the industry to work to make our dreams of exploration a reality. As such. this legislation authorizes recruitment. relocation and retention bonuses as an incentive to NASA employees. term appointments to our most valued scientific minds. and the ability for Administrator OKeefe to provide pay increases to those in critical positions and with superior qualifications. These are essential additions necessary for NASA to succeed in its newest missions. Furthermore. the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker. authorizes $10 million to begin a Science and Technology Scholarship Program. This funding is an important step for promoting the sciences in our high schools and colleges. while allowing less advantaged students a potential for higher studies. Our superiority in science and the technologies. without any doubt. has declined since President Kennedy began our Nation on a path to the moon in 1961. It is our responsibility to ensure that when those highly trained NASA scientists retire. some of whom have participated in the entire history of our space program. that they know their replacements will be the best and the brightest from any background that this country has to offer. I would like to quote Christa McAuliffe. a teacher. astronaut and American hero tragically lost in the explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle. She said. "Space is for. everybody. Its not just for a few people in science or math. or for a select group of astronauts. Thats our new frontier out there. and it is everybodys business to know about space." I believe that the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker. will help NASA to continue our passionate exploration of the unknown. And we bring this legislation forward. Mr. Speaker. under an open rule. Any Member can bring forth to this House for the consideration of all of its membership any idea that Members may have. It is an open and a fair rule. I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Chairman BOEHLERT) and Senator VOINOVICH for their support on this issue. I urge Members to support both the rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.