Bob Menendez: “As our country grieves for the tragic loss of the Columbia crew, we want their families to know that we are truly…”

“As our country grieves for the tragic loss of the Columbia crew, we want their families to know that we are truly grateful for their sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. America is not alone in mourning the loss of the Columbia heroes. We are joined by the entire global community. No country understands our loss more than Israel and India for whom that loss is particularly acute, having first rejoiced as two of their own realized the dream of participating in the American space program only to have this joy turned into sorrow. This great Nation was founded by those rare men and women who are willing to risk their lives in the name of exploration. The Columbia astronauts and their colleagues in the space program are our true explorers. So as our Nation mourns the loss of these seven heroes, we are united in our grief and sorrow and united in our determination to move forward in our exploration of space, and our experiments in space that will, undoubtedly, continue to improve our lives with new technologies and new medicines. The lives of these selfless pioneers were not lost in vain, and so we must reenergize our space program and make sure that Congress and the President fund NASA at levels that guarantee safety and progress. When America ventures into space, we send more than just a shuttle; it is more than just a mission. We send our hopes and our dreams.”