On the recordFebruary 8, 2011
I rise in support of the Nelson amendment. The amendment would strike section 605, as Senator Hutchison said, from the FAA bill. Section 605 would establish an advisory committee on the future of aeronautics to, among other things, consider transferring responsibility for civil aeronautics research and development from NASA to other existing departments. The sole purpose is to take away aeronautics from NASA. That is unacceptable. It belies the very purpose of NASA in our space and aeronautics mission. NASA stands for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. His amendment ensures that NASA stays that way. This is a question of maintaining our space, aeronautics, and economic competitiveness. Remember, one of our Nation's top manufacturing exports--and we don't export nearly enough manufactured goods--is aerospace, which includes civilian aircraft components. Ohio is the center for the aerospace industry. We make billions of dollars in components both for Boeing and Airbus and many other manufacturers. Section 605 would jeopardize America's dominance in aerospace and would shift the programs that have strengthened our Nation's global leadership away from the experience and expertise at NASA.
