Sen. Hutchison Applauds Passage of Legislation Containing Funds for NASA Manned Space Flight and Science

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) applauded passage of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012, which contains funding for NASA to move forward with manned space flight.

"An important element of this legislation provides NASA with funding in the critical area of manned space flight," said Sen. Hutchison. "Congress is correctly taking a close look at spending, and NASA programs should not be exempted from scrutiny. We in the Senate and House were able to craft a compromise that protected ongoing science and technology programs and missions, while also placing NASA in a position to move forward with manned space flight, in which America can never afford to lose its pre-eminence."

As Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Sen. Hutchison has overseen the authorizing priorities of NASA, including the transition of the shuttle program to the new space launch system and the International Space Station. When it became clear the Administration was not adhering to Congress' 2010 Authorization Bill and was delaying the designs of the new rocket, Sen. Hutchison switched her appropriations subcommittee assignment from ranking Republican on Military Construction to ranking Republican on Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS). From this key position, she was able to ensure that NASA funding decisions reflected priorities set forth in the 2010 Authorization Bill.

"Building upon the bipartisan agreement signed into law that set the policies for NASA last year, this spending bill provides significant investments in our human exploration capabilities. Human space flight is a part of the American spirit and most certainly is a part of the American economy. The bill contains the necessary funding for the recently announced heavy lift launch vehicle. The bill further provides funding for the Orion space capsule that has been designed and is currently being built and tested in order to carry our astronauts to locations such as the Moon and nearby asteroids. At the same time, we are providing resources for the Commercial Crew vehicle that will end our reliance on the Russians to carry our astronauts to the International Space Station."

"As a country, we have spent significant resources to develop and complete an important resource in space, the International Space Station. It is a national laboratory where we advance our knowledge in every scientific discipline, including biology and physics, through experiments which are impossible to do on Earth. Our continued investment in maintaining this capability is crucial to keeping our country at the cutting edge of science and technology."

"Finally, the bill also funds a science portfolio of missions that will enable us to understand more about the planet we live on and our solar system, and to look deeply into the universe. The Webb telescope is funded in order to continue the work of the highly successful Hubble telescope. Robotic missions to Mars and to other celestial bodies are also funded."

"This bill is the result of a lot of difficult choices. I have strived to protect NASA and our national interests in space. Congress has provided a balanced portfolio of human exploration capabilities, scientific missions, and investments in technology that will advance our technical and engineering knowledge for years to come."

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