I say this is unacceptable--especially at a time when other nations are aggressively developing space technology.

That language was changed, in the continuing resolution, from the Senate-passed bill.

I wanted to ask you if you are seeing that in actuality?

But you do have the offset of what is being done within aeronautics.

that Dr. Sam Ting is working on, both in Switzerland, and other countries, and would like to have the spectrometer go on the Space Station.

Well, that's why I would like to have the accurate----

A combined total of $3.1 billion less for those 2 years than we authorized.

On the face of it, the request is a good budget, with a 3.1 percent increase over what had been requested for FY 2007.

I have always enjoyed our very strong and bipartisan working relationship, and look forward to working with you.

The 2008 budget looks very strong, a 3.1 percent increase.

Well, I'm very disappointed to hear that, because it was my impression that the appropriations staff person was saying that you would have the flexibility to continue the priorities, which have been human spaceflight, and that…

I would like to ask you if you would give me the detail of how much you would need in transferability to continue the Crew Exploration Vehicle

Well, I've met many of them, and they are an unbelievable group of American men and women, courageous.

Ultimately, the Nation and this Congress choose to invest in a space program not because we dream of far off planets but because we want to leave Earth a better place to live.

We cannot achieve our plans for exploration of the Solar System if we go it alone, and our performance today will impact our ability to recruit partners for the future.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's missions are vital and important to our understanding of the Universe and to improving our existence on Earth.

I look forward to examining these issues today along with the Subcommittee's new Chair, Senator Bill Nelson.

I am dismayed that the request significantly cuts NASA's investment in the interagency Climate Change Science Program.