if things escalate with Mr. Putin, that he decides to use access to space as a weapon.

I cannot think of a more distinguished, a more experienced, a more respected panel than the three witnesses who are with us today.

We must ensure that America remains the leader in space exploration.

Just over a half-century ago, President John F. Kennedy laid down a marker in my hometown of Houston, Texas, and made a commitment that, like the great pioneers that came before us, we too would set sail on a new sea and send man to the…

But you have to have the will to keep going.

I would welcome the views of the witnesses on this panel as to what the top priorities of NASA should be.

We cannot abdicate our place in human spaceflight to other countries that ARE willing to step up.

What do you see right now as the greatest impediments to the continued development and expansion of our commercial crew and commercial cargo capacity?

It would seem that over time it would make sense to work to transition away from dependence on the Russians.

My personal view is that it's got to be a high priority, and while you've got a lot of priorities to manage it's a difficult thing.

Finding a long term, mandatory funding source for PILT is very important.

Whether it's Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, other places--they are all in the firing line.

It makes it a high priority.

we are a great country, and we need to behave like a great country.

We have pressed the DRC Government at every opportunity and at the very highest levels, including during Secretary Kerry's meetings with President Kabila last May and August, to lift the suspension immediately for families who have already…

The United States provides significant support to civil society groups and organizations in Syria with the goals of fostering a robust, inclusive and tolerant society.

We have repeatedly called for the release of Pastor Saeed Abedini, who is serving an 8 year prison sentence on charges related to his religious beliefs.

It is one of the reasons Ebola is a problem, for instance. There is just no infrastructure there.