The Public Record
Richard Shelby is a former United States Senator from Alabama, serving from January 3, 1987, until January 3, 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Shelby was known for his work on various committees, including Appropriations and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Throughout his tenure, he focused on issues such as military funding, economic development, and infrastructure improvements in Alabama.
I believe, and I think this committee will agree, that the Missile Defense Agency's work to invest in game changing technology programs is essential to defending the United States, our deployed troops, allies, and friends against adversary…
Ms. Miller, could you just for a moment, for the record here today, speak to the importance of providing adequate funding
This reduction could result in fewer people receiving treatment during an influenza pandemic and fewer people receiving post-exposure treatment following exposure to anthrax.
I want to thank you. You weren't here when I thanked you the first time, but I am going to thank you again for all you have done in leading this subcommittee and providing appropriations for NASA.
I remember in this subcommittee years back when people were naysayers about the Hubble telescope. They said, 'Oh, gosh, that is a waste of money.' But it hasn't been a waste of money. It has been on the cutting edge of exploration.
I wish we could find more money for all of our programs. We are in tough budget times, as you well know.
I will work with you and Senator Mikulski. Senator Mikulski and I have worked together for NASA, working to make sure, to the best of our ability, that NASA is well-funded.
One of the reasons that we request cooler heads prevail, if we were to pull out, then there is no more of the type of operations that go on, on the International Space Station today.
Should we or the Russians choose to pull out, the International Space Station as we know it no longer exists.
And we hope that things work out between us and Russia and the rest of the world, but if Russia were to cut ties with the U.S. or we were to cut ties with them, and they would no longer be able to provide our astronauts transportation to…
Since retiring the space shuttle, we have relied solely from the Russians to get our astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
We have told our international partners that we are committed to being able to carry their crew and ours to the International Space Station on American spacecraft by 2017.
But it is very important that we keep funding SLS at a confidence level, a level that they can finish their job, on time and on budget.
My question, could you assure the subcommittee that the funding level for SLS will be consistent...
I am concerned that the budget request for SLS is a sign that NASA intends to advance a funding profile that supports a Joint Confidence Level well below the 70 percent threshold.
I really want to thank you again, you and Senator Mikulski, for the leadership you have displayed with this subcommittee.
Once SLS is operational, NASA will be able to provide critical heavy-lift capabilities to short-, medium-, and long-range missions.
The budget request maintains a resource level that underfunds SLS and inserts unnecessary budgetary and schedule risks into the future of human exploration.
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