"I think it is in our Nation's interest."
"I love it when billionaires want to spend their own money to do cool things that help the country, but it's still a business."
"I don't want it to look like at any time that the government is putting their finger on the scale to help anybody, except the government."
"not having assured access to space is not an option from our national security standpoint."
"Do you plan to fund an entirely new launch vehicle and all new infrastructure? Do you know what it will, or could, cost the taxpayer?"
"If everything is successful."
"Do you agree that there is the potential, as outlined by Ms. McFarland, that there could be a multi-year period where we would not have assured access to space for the heavy NRO platforms?"
"Is that optimistic or is it practically realistic?"
"Before I stop, I want to go to what Ms. McFarland just described as this potential gap of time when we won't have access, particularly on the heavy-lift..."
"Okay."
"I thank the gentlelady."