Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I appreciate my colleague from Houston, Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) bringing her amendment. Service on the Committee on Science, I think points out the need for this. I have a district in Houston. It does not come close to the Johnson Space Center, but I also know the benefits that we all receive, even if we do not represent that particular area from both NASA and the science investment that NASA is doing and also the International Space Station. I appreciate the Committee on Appropriations adding the 400 additional million for NASA, however it still falls about a billion dollars short of what NASA needs to be an effective agency and to continue to be literally the world leader in preeminent space program. U.S. space program is the envy of the world, and I know a lot of Members get to visit with other countries, and oftentimes that will be sometimes the first issue they will talk about is the space program. The continued success of programs like the Mars Lander or the Hubble Telescope should not be halted because of shortsighted funds. We are just beginning to understand this great huge universe that we have, and missions to search for water on the moon or to find life on Mars is what is keeping our Nation's technology and academic advancements going.”