On the recordJune 2, 2015
I am seeking an increase of funding for the Commercial Crew Program in our Science budget. For the past several years, the United States taxpayers have been paying over $70 million a person to launch our astronauts to the International Space Station on Russian vehicles from Russian soil. We must end this reliance on the Russians as quickly as possible. We must set priorities within the NASA budget to make sure that the American astronauts are launched from American soil on American vehicles sooner rather than later. When it comes to spending within our NASA budget, it is important that we set a precedent of what we think is the most important thing to do. NASA is the only U.S. Government agency that has human spaceflight as its mission. If NASA doesn't do it, then it simply is not going to be done. This investment in Commercial Crew, which is managed out of Johnson Space Center in the 36th congressional District, would aid the development of U.S. human spaceflight capabilities and lay the foundation for future commercial transportation and end our dependence on the Russians. I look forward to working with you, Mr. Chairman, to ensure that we give this program the funding necessary to end our reliance on the Russians.
