I am also concerned about the condition of the observatory with respect to maintenance and modernization.

How can such an inadequate budget request for the 2020 Census be justified?

I am convinced when the public--when we make that remarkable discovery of life in another world, it will reinvigorate the public's already deep admiration for NASA and allow us to have enough money for the program for the future.

The National Science Foundation is vital in promoting basic research and education in science and engineering.

Do I understand, Mr. Chairman, that this telescope eventually will be able to look at a State and determine how many people are going to vote Democrat and how many people will vote Republican?

This whole subcommittee is arm in arm when it comes to our support for fundamental research, the spectacular work done by the National Science Foundation and NASA.

I am concerned that the NSF may be taking steps to begin reductions now that have been proposed in fiscal year 2018 but not enacted.

This gives us or I have been told by Census Directors before it gives us indications on economic trends and on situations that we need to know also.

I hope as a person of your background you keep an eye on this, because this is more important than we think.

Unless we shore up the NSF's ability to invest in research, our global leadership in a large number of scientific fields will be threatened.

To your knowledge, did President Trump or his advisers consult with NASA's Earth Science division or rely in any way on NASA's Earth Science data prior to the President's announcement that he is pulling the United States out of the…

It is the first time in the 67-year history of this agency that a President has proposed a budget below the previous fiscal year.