I commend the NASA and contractor workforce on this progress.

So just to clarify, with the reduced funding, you don't see any anticipated missed deadlines for SLS.

I am concerned, however, that NASA has neglected Congressional funding priorities and been distracted by new and questionable missions.

Like you, I am committed to ensuring that our Nation has a robust space program that will continue to lead the world for generations.

The request for the Space Technology program this year is a 62 percent increase over the appropriation it received in Fiscal Year 2012.

I remain committed to ensuring our Nation has a robust exploration program.

I am skeptical about continuing to develop a market as broad and as deep as NASA suggests because I think it could delay that goal.

In a time of budgetary restraints such as the one our Nation is facing, we must ensure that every agency is doing its part.

how can we ensure, General, that programs like these that are already highly successful and are inspiring an entirely new generation of engineers don't disappear?

I look forward, Administrator Bolden, to what I hope will be a beginning of an active dialogue.

I am worried that NASA is footing the bill for other agency requirements, all while being asked to take an overall budget cut.

I am also troubled by NASA's requested reductions in the Science, Aeronautics, and Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorates.

I hope today's discussion can clarify the rationale for the proposed asteroid and capture retrieval initiative.

I continue to be concerned about the strategy NASA is employing to fund crew transportation systems.

I feel it is necessary to express my disappointment that the Administration has been unable to fulfill its responsibilities for a timely budget as required under the Budget and Accounting Act.

Our first priority must be getting American astronauts launching on American rockets from American soil as soon as safely possible.

I have said before and I will say it again that our investments in research and development, including space, are investments in innovation, jobs and future economic growth.

I commend the agency and the contractor workforce on this progress.

sequestration I think falls on--in the latter, mindless cuts to defense.

I would hate to see us waste that investment and some hard-earned lessons.

It would seem to me that we may be putting the cart before the horse here and we should be waiting until after this committee completes its job before we actually move any planes around.

With the proposed end strength of our Reserve and National Guard, and then the restructuring of SOUTHCOM, are we as prepared to respond to future natural disasters and other emergency humanitarian crises in the region as we have been in…

We encourage you to support HR 1014, introduced by Congressman Steven Palazzo, which would exempt these technicians from furlough.

In our current sequestration environment do you believe that we can afford to move planes and crews that are accomplishing everything that we ask of them, without cost saving being a top factor?

How is the Air Force prioritizing the airlift capabilities under the constraints of a limited budget?