Larry Pressler: “I rise to oppose the Bumpers amendment on space station. As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science…”

“I rise to oppose the Bumpers amendment on space station. As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which authorizes and oversees the NASA budget, I believe space station will be the foundation of our space program for many years to come. In just 1 year, we will finally begin the assembly of the largest structure ever constructed in space. Space station also is one of the most ambitious international science exports ever undertaken. Space station will bring together the United States and its foreign partners--Japan, Western Europe, Canada, and its newest partner, Russia--in this great challenge to build an orbiting laboratory to conduct important microgravity and biomedical research requiring the unique environment of outer space. The research of space station is expected to eventually lead to new drugs to fight disease, improve our health, and permit the invention of new advanced materials. These benefits will be enjoyed and experienced by the entire world community. In addition, we can expect commercial spinoffs and breakthrough technologies just as past NASA programs have spawned such great advances as communications satellites. Many products we take for granted today were the result of work performed on NASA missions. Laser faxes, pacemakers, advanced water filters, hearing aid testers, and Doppler radar systems all were generated from NASA projects.”