Tom Feeney: “I am very grateful today for the leadership of the gentleman from New York (Chairman Boehlert) for the advancement of…”

“I am very grateful today for the leadership of the gentleman from New York (Chairman Boehlert) for the advancement of science in general and space science in particular. I am grateful that the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), our chairman of the subcommittee, is about to pass the first authorization bill for NASA in some 5 years. It is important now that the President has laid out a grand new vision for the future of space that Congress weigh in and participate, and this is our first opportunity on the House floor. I am grateful for both the gentleman from New York (Chairman Boehlert) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), but I too want to suggest that it is important we have a bipartisan consensus so that the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon), ranking member, and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) have played an important role in making sure that this is a United States space vision, not a Bush vision, not a Democratic or Republican vision; and this is a great opportunity to start in this new millennium. And, of course, Mike Griffin has done a terrific job. He has got a background with more science credentials than some entire science departments at universities; and he has proven that he can take the bull by the horns, change the entire attitude and culture at NASA in a positive way.…”