Bill Nelson

The way Congress is operating is not the world that I want to see, either. And yet, we find that it often doesn't work.

I completely agree with Secretary Hagel's recommended changes to Article 60.

Do you believe that a commander should have that authority to overturn the decision of a military court?

The government played a very large role in its development.

Yet, what we have seen in the course of the last two campaign cycles is enormous money running through the 501(c)(4) organizations.

I would hope that the administration would take some responsibility, if that is the IRS Commissioner, if that is the Secretary of Treasury, if indeed that is the President, and we would see some implementation of the law.

Whereas, Senator Hatch has pointed out from his standpoint that this was government run amok, it also seems to me that this was government that was impotent and that did not act.

But a presidential appointee is there for the purpose of carrying out the law, and, when it becomes patently obvious that the law is being thwarted because the IRS's ability not to tax is being used by organizations to electioneer, then it…

The law is very clear: it says you cannot involve yourself in electioneering if you want this kind of tax-exempt status.

Well, the law as it is written is written, so any attempt to come back and say that we have to change or clarify the law seems to me to be the wrong question. The question is the administrative implementation of existing law when there are…

Well, Mr. Chairman, in conclusion, I would say that, if we could get the IRS to follow the law and the regulation that implemented it, we would not have this problem in the future.

The promotion of social welfare does not include direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns.

I'm sure that given 4 or 5 percent of the Federal budget, NASA could completely do that job.

It is imperative that we provide low-cost--or have the capability to have low-cost transportation to low-Earth orbit.

Thank you, Senator, for the question.

I believe that commercial spaceflight will continue to grow in capability and beneficial economic impact, and secure America's place as the world leader in space.

The government can achieve safety goals that only increase launch costs incrementally.

I think the atmosphere is getting better because of the successes that we've seen, the successes that we've seen with regard to the commercial rockets and the commercial cargo.

That's the consensus; that's where it's been for more than two decades.

I think it's very important to consider this opportunity.

Well, that was my question: When?

By the way, one of you mentioned that the life of the International Space Station ought to be extended to its expected design life in the late 2020s, and I certainly agree.

We've got a political problem. You need to do business in an ideal world, as you all say, in the international arena, but those who would do ill to the ideals and the policies of this country, you've just got to be realists about it.

So then it is realistic to expect that it's going to get to the point where universities could buy a seat to send Dr. Collicott's students.

What we are going to see is that as the Mars program starts to kick in, and we will start to see the first evidence of that next year as the Orion capsule is flight tested, then that awareness of the human space program will return.