Date: 2008-06-11
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my good friend. the gentleman from Florida . for the time. and yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. next month we are set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA. in the beginning of its mission "to pioneer the future in space exploration. scientific discovery and aeronautics research." Since then. NASA has sent men to the moon. established a permanent human presence in space aboard the International Space Station. sent robots to explore Mars for signs of life. and launched the Hubble Telescope that revolutionized astronomy by providing unprecedented deep and clear views of the universe. One can only imagine what NASA will accomplish in the next 50 years as we begin working building a permanent base on the moon and eventually sending astronauts to explore Mars and beyond. Since the creation of the Kennedy Space Center in 1962. as my good friend Mr. HASTINGS has explained. Florida has played an integral role supporting NASAs mission through a partnership between Floridas academic and business sectors. Florida will continue to play an important role as the space flights to the mon and Mars begin their journey of exploration at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. I am pleased that the underlying legislation. H.R. 6063. will continue this successful partnership. Three years ago. Congress passed the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 which provided policy and programmatic guidance for NASA that made clear that NASA is and should remain a multimission agency. with a balanced portfolio of programs in space. aeronautics and human space flight. including human and robotic exploration beyond low Earth orbit. Todays legislation reaffirms those basic principles. while emphasizing the importance of NASA leadership and Earth observations and research. aeronautics research and development. to address critical national needs. and an exploration program strengthened by international cooperation under strong United States leadership. The underlying legislation authorizes $20.21 billion in funding for fiscal year 2009. That is a 2.8 percent increase in investment from fiscl year 2008. As we all know. NASA intends to retire the shuttle fleet in 2010. The shuttle will be replaced with.a 21st century exploration system. the Constellation Program. that will be costeffective. reliable. versatile. and. most importantly. safe for our brave and brilliant astronauts. Until the Constellation Program is ready for lift off in 2015. we will be reliant upon Russia to ferry our crews and equipment to the International Space Station. NASA has agreements to pay Russia $760 million. and those costs could rise as high as $2.8 billion during the gap. To reduce our reliance on Russia. the bill authorizes an additional $1 billion to accelerate the development of the replacement Orion and Ares rockets and reduce the 5year gap. Doing that will help retain thousands of wellpaying aerospace. engineering and technician jobs and maintain American expertise in those areas. The legislation also fully authorizes the administrations request for the International Space Station to ensure its safety and longterm viability and funds additional shuttle missions. in- It didnt have to be like that. One of cluding one to deliver the Alpha Mag- the central tenets of -the Democrats netic Spectrometer. The spectrometer campaign in 2006 was that they would is designed to search for unusual mat- run Congress in a more open and biparter by measuring cosmic rays. Its Ox- tisan manner. On December 6. 2006. periments will help researchers study Speaker PELOSI reiterated her camand unlock the mysteries.of the forma- paign promise. She said. and I quote. tioh of the universe. "We promised the American people This legislation fully authorizes that we would have -the most honest NASAs Education Program. which and open government. and we will." seeks to inspire and motivate students Yet here we are. threefourths of the. to pursue careers in science. tech- way through the 110th Congress. and nology. engineering and mathematics. the majority has come forth with one I believe it is vital to keep the United open rule. What a shame that their States competitive in science. math promises were left on the campaign and engineering. Our children are our trail. future. and by seriously funding math Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of and science programs we ensure that my time. our future generations will continue to Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam excel. explore and discover. Speaker. I yield 3 minutes to the disI would like to thank Chairman GOR- tinguished gentlewoman. a member of DON and Ranking Member HALL and the Rules Committee and my good Subcommittee Chairman UDALL and friend from Florida . Ranking Member FEENEY for their bi- Ms. CASTOR. I thank my good friend partisan work in the Science Coin- from Florida who is a mittee on this important reauthoriza- strong supporter of the space program. tion bill. Unfortunately. Mr. Speaker. Madam Speaker. I rise today in that bipartisan spirit didnt make it strong support of H.R. 6063. the Napast the doors of the Rules Committee. tional Aeronautics and Space Adminiswhere the majority only allowed one tfation Act of 2008. Republican amendment. while allowing . NASA is celebrating its 50year anni10 Democratic arendments. It is a new versary this year. and I salute and conratio. 10 to 1. And that one Republican gratulate everyone at NASA for their amendment is just a sense of Congress. contributions to American life and while many of the Democratic amend- science. Space exploration and rements call for substantive changes in search comprised the foundation of policy. technological advances in America One example of how the majority that have greatly improved all of our consistently blocks Republicans but al- lives. lows Democratic amendments is illus- For example. in early NASA mistrated with the disparatareatment of sions. largescale integrated circuits the Lampson and Gingrey amend- were created that today are the basis ments. The majority on the Rules Coin- for all modern computers. and how mittee made in order the Lampson would we live without computers amendment exempting NASA from sec- today? NASA also helps the United tion 526(a) of the Energy Independence States maintain its competitive edge and Security Act. and yet when Rep- in the global marketplace. More engiresentative GINGREY submitted two neers now come from outside the amendments to the Rules Committee United States that are produced by our regarding. the same issue. they were colleges and universities. both rejected. America can do better. NASA is one So far this year. the majority on the of the keys to doing so. NASA sciRules Committee has issued a record 54 entists and researchers keep America closed rules. while only allowing one focused on innovation and betterpay- open rule. The majority had an oppor- ing jobs. In addition. fewer and fewer tunity yesterday to change their ways children are interested in entering and provide an open rule for this legis- science fields. even though our world lation. thus doubling their amount of today is dominated by science and open rules. but instead they decided by technology. We must encourage ydung a partyline vote that they are quite . people and students to stay interested content blocking an open debate. in science and enter scientific fields of An open debate on the NASA reau- study. The fantastic NASA missions thorization would be particularly help- and research also plays a vital role ful in getting this legislation signed here. into law. Prior to the hearing in the There are currently seven astronauts Rules Committee. the administration aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery p reissued its Statement of Administrative paring to return to earth after a highly Policy. or SAP. as it is known. The successful mission. I had the privilege SAP stated that the administration of watching the successful launch of has several areas of concern with the the Space Shuttle Discovery a week and legislation. By allowing an open debate a half ago at the Kennedy Space Center process. we could vet the areas of con- in Cape Canaveral. Florida. I was cern so we can produce a bill that can thrilled to share that day with our colbe signed into law. However. the major- league. Congresswoman GABRIELLE ity decided against an open and fair de- GIFFORDS. as her husband. Mark Kelly. bate. and now this important reauthor- is the commander of the Space Shuttle ization may be delayed. Discovery. Congratulations to the Discovery crew. the mission team on the ground as well. as they have successfully delivered the Japanese Kibo scientific lab to the International Space Station and have now completed their mission. The Dersonnel at the Kennedy Space Center and their partners throughout Florida have an unmatched dedication to our countrys space program. They are a highly trained workforce with a record of achievement and tradition that cannot be matched. Thats why it troubles me that President Bush has threatened a veto of this important NASA bill. I urge President Bush to reflect on these facts before he picks up his veto pen. which he threatened to do yesterday in a letter to us. Before President Bush vetoes this outstanding NASA reauthorization bill. I would urge the White House to consider the economic impact of such a bill.