That's what Hubble and the other science, basic science that we do in this great country is all about.

You've touched our hearts, and you've also made history.

Hello to all of our astronauts on Space Shuttle Atlantis. You are taking part in something quite historical, not only have you given the Hubble a new life, but you're going to give the Senate a new lease on life.

But when you look at the importance of what we do, things like Hubble, the International Space Station, our exploration program, our climate observing, observing the Earth, the dynamic Earth, all of these things are so very important to…

We may be the leader in manned space flight today, but the eventual ramifications of this budget... has the potential to ensure that this lead will end, perhaps forever.

The Senate is a wonderful institution, we've actually had three astronaut Senators--John Glenn, Jake Garn, and Bill Nelson.

What is in the President's request for the NASA educational efforts?

What would be useful to us in the debate is to know what we can continue to contribute for our colleagues, so that decisions, recommendations, policy initiatives and policy flashing lights would come from our science.

We've got to get back to this, because we believe that in order to maintain U.S. leadership in aeronautics, we need to make those public investments.

Let me say why I'm raising this.

We believe science should speak for itself, and that the facts of science should speak for itself.

I recognized that this disparity which discriminated against lower income individuals who more often use crack was not justified by the effects of crack compared to powder cocaine and I introduced a bill to address it.

I welcome this hearing. I hope that Congress will follow the recommendations of numerous authorities and approve reducing this ratio.

I hope that my colleagues will not allow the pursuit of the perfect to prevent the potential adoption of a compromise that would reduce the unjustified current 100 to 1 disparate ratio in the treatment of crack compared to powder cocaine.

For too many years unjustified disparate treatment of crack and powder cocaine has had a racially disproportionate and unjust impact upon our poor people and minority communities.

I recognized in 2002 that this ratio that had been adopted in haste and driven by fear was not justified by the facts.

So we have got a lot to do together, and we want to work with you to recapitalize and rebuild the Department of Justice so we can render justice in our country and have our national honor restored abroad.

Good morning, and welcome to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science.