there is a great deal at stake here, and it's not only for our employees in our respective states, but it clearly is for this Nation being the leader in technology through its space exploration program.

The shift to commercial spaceflight cannot come at the expense of astronaut safety.

I do want to acknowledge some good news in the FY 2011 Budget Request, which is that the Obama Administration agrees with the need to continue supporting the Space Station to at least 2020.

Only a clearly defined mission and vision for our space program can provide our children with the necessary inspiration and enthusiasm to themselves reach for the stars.

It's not a question of money; it's a question of priorities.

space is a nonpartisan issue, and we always run this committee in a bipartisan way.

I want to state that with the retirement of the Space Shuttle later this year, and if the Administration's proposal is followed, the United States will no longer be a space-faring nation.

I believe that is irresponsible and unworthy of this Nation's historical leadership in space.

I clearly support the vision of eventually passing to them the responsibility of going to and from LEO.

I think we are still looking at a significant strategic mistake in shutting down the Space Shuttle before we need to.

If the President said, 'We're going to go to Mars,' and he laid out a vision, how do you think the American public would respond?

If the Constellation program is canceled, how do we make sure that those valuable assets are integrated into the new program?