Political Quotes

“There is a saying that the path to space goes through Hancock County, Mississippi. That statement has been true for five decades due to the unequaled excellence and dedication of the men and women of the John C. Stennis Space Center, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of its founding this week. The work done at Stennis is varied, but it is known worldwide as the home of rocket engine testing. Before we have sent men and women into space, the engines they ascended on were tested on the ground at Stennis. Every mission to the Moon and every flight of the space shuttle roared with Stennis-tested engines. The Space Center is the beacon of innovation for private industry, educational institutions, and students of all ages. I am honored to serve as chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. In my role, I hope to see all my colleagues visit the Stennis Space Center, especially to see an engine test. You will be awed by the technological ingenuity and complexity of the operation and of the passion and skill of the workforce. It is so easy to herald the past achievements of NASA and the Stennis Space Center, but it is the future that should drive us toward even greater ones, for the path back to the Moon, to Mars and beyond goes through Hancock County, Mississippi. ____________________”