Mike Honda: “I would like to share my thanks to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) and the gentleman from California (Mr.…”

“I would like to share my thanks to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) and the ranking members, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall), and their staff for all of the work they have done in producing a bill that we all can support. I think Members sometimes wish they could say that they sit on a committee that is working well and being productive, and I am one such Member that can say that. Our chairman, the chairman of the subcommittee, and our ranking members have put together a very, very good bill that all of us can be very proud of. It focuses not only on NASA, but also on the productivity of this country. I was concerned, however, along with many other members of the committee, that a singular focus on manned space exploration was going to drain resources from other parts of NASA's mission. Outstanding scientific work, such as that being done at NASA's Ames Research Center, in fields such as astrobiology, the life sciences, and nanotechnology, was losing out in a battle for resources with short- term acquisitions for exploration systems. In addition, air traffic management and other important aviation and aeronautic programs were being given the short shrift. I am pleased that the bill enables us to move forward in exploration, science and aviation which are critical not only to manned space exploration but also to other NASA priorities.…”