Hank Johnson: “We definitely do. I think we've spent about 1\1/2\ percent per year of the Federal budget on the National Aeronautics…”

“We definitely do. I think we've spent about 1\1/2\ percent per year of the Federal budget on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from 1958 up until a few years ago. Can you imagine if the United States Government had left it up to private industry to achieve what happened in 1969, which was that we landed a spaceship, with men inside, and stepped foot on the Moon? Now, some who are not particularly scientifically astute will say, Well, what do we get out of going to the Moon? I, not being the most astute scientist myself, wouldn't be able to explain all of the benefits that society has enjoyed as a result of that victory and as a result of the space program that has continued, but I will tell you that, at this point after 50 years of investment, we've now entrusted the private sector to continue the exploration of outer space, and private industry is going to take us further than we have been. So that is the role of government. It's a support structure. It's an investment in the lives of the people.”