OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Shuttle Safety

Date: June 27, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Transportation Science


SHUTTLE SAFETY

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, just a few days from today, brave Americans will again enter into space, pressing forward the intellectual and, of course, scientific expertise that Americans possess. I support the space exploration program, but I stand today as a member of the House Science Committee who has continually asked the question about safety, safety, safety.

After the incident of Columbia, we implemented safety procedures. Unfortunately, today, we find that one of the engineers that had concerns about the space shuttle's launch on July 1 has now been removed as an engineer from this program.

Whistle-blower protection. Safety requirements. It is time, before they launch, that they tell Members of Congress the facts and that we can be assured that all manner of testing, all assessment has been made to ensure a safe launch, as safe as possible, so that lives can be protected.

Vehicles may be lost, but the lives of astronauts should be protected. We need answers, and I look forward to getting those answers as soon as possible.

http://thomas.loc.gov

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