Issue Position: NASA and Space Exploration

Issue Position

Issue Position: NASA and Space Exploration

The spirit of space exploration and scientific discovery are cornerstones of our North Alabama community. As pioneers in such critical efforts, the responsibility falls on us to ensure our nation remains the leader in space utilization. U.S. leadership in space is critical to maintaining our edge in technology development and scientific understanding.

A healthy and vibrant Marshall Space Flight Center is key to ensuring a strong future in space exploration. Marshall is currently engaged in the development of the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles. These two vehicles will not only serve as the replacements to the space shuttle, but will also be critical to our efforts to return to the moon. Additionally, the Ares V heavy launch vehicle is poised to play an important role in our national defense and in future space science research. As one of the nation's premier scientific institutions, Marshall, along with the National Space Science and Technology Center, will play a key role in the research to be conducted on the lunar surface. This builds on our community's strong space science capability.

In the face of ever tightening federal budgets, I will remain vigilant and prepared to defend our national investment in space exploration. As a physician, I've seen firsthand how the technologies developed through the space program save lives and improve the quality of life of untold numbers of patients. From rocket engine technology that has been utilized to improve heart pumps, to NASA-developed imaging technology which aids in the early detection of breast cancer, the innovations derived from our space exploration efforts are too numerous to list. We cannot take these incredible advances in technology for granted. We must continue to invest in research and development to unlock the discoveries of the future. As your Congressman, I will work every day to ensure those in Washington understand the value of our investment in NASA.

In addition to Marshall and its industry partners, the Tennessee Valley has tremendous assets in research and development capabilities residing in Huntsville's Cummings Research Park, in our area universities, and in the rocket production capability in Decatur. The Tennessee Valley is also home to several entrepreneurial companies that are contributing to our nation's growing commercial space efforts. In all of these areas, we must work to ensure that the federal government's actions help and do not hinder this growing commercial market.

Future generations will benefit from the economic prosperity that an increased U.S. presence in space will afford. We must work today to ensure we are making sound investments to secure our role as the world's leader in space for generations to come.

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