Thank you, Senator Mikulski--Madam Chairwoman. This is the beginning of our fifth year working together on this subcommittee.

I think that's smart.

I remain steadfast in insisting on safety as the first priority for the space program. Nothing less is acceptable.

The census is vastly important to the representation in Congress and the allocation of Federal funds.

I fail to see how this escape pod will lessen our reliance on other nations for our access to space.

The fiscal year 2011 budget request for the Department of Justice is $29 billion. This is a $1.5 billion, or 5 percent increase, over the fiscal year 2010 request.

We owe them a debt of gratitude, as well as you, the leader, Mr. Mueller.

This is a clear violation of the law that says no money will be used--no funds will be used in any way to change or modify the program for fiscal 2010.

Via the Second Chance Act, the Department of Justice is requesting $140 million to educate and mentor terrorists, pedophiles and career criminals--while requesting minimal funds for reducing the DNA backlog.

If the commercial route is truly the route that you are headed; wouldn't it be cheaper and wiser to just use a Dragon capsule for this purpose?

The President's new plan, like his old one, shows that NASA's leadership team still does not understand the issues at stake.

Minimal progress has been made in funding and implementing the Adam Walsh Act and a long term and efficient plan for reducing the DNA backlog by increasing public crime lab capacity is nonexistent.