Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8958, the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024. NASA is at an important point in its history. Through the Artemis program, it is currently leading a team of commercial and international partners to return astronauts to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. It also seeks to continue operations in low-Earth orbit and accomplish impressive feats of scientific exploration to better understand the universe in which we live. However, America's role as a space leader cannot be taken for granted. As more actors, both commercial and foreign, take to the stars, space is increasingly competitive and contested. Among these competitors is the Chinese Communist Party, which is devoting significant resources to rapidly expanding its presence in space. In 2023, the CCP completed construction of its own space station and returned to Earth the first rock samples from the far side of the Moon. The CCP also made substantial progress on its plans to land humans on the Moon by 2030. Through these and other activities, the Chinese have become a global leader in space activity. The next nation to land on the lunar surface will play a key role in guiding the norms and practices that may govern lunar and space exploration for decades to come. We cannot cede U.S. leadership at this time. In order to be successful, Congress must provide NASA with clear, forward-thinking guidance.…”