Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for having this hearing. And I am very pleased to be able to introduce our nominee, Nelva Gonzales Ramos.
I know that she has a solid understanding of the law and is well qualified, and I recommend her without reservation to the committee.
I just want to go back to the law that was passed in 2010 regarding the disposition of the orbiter vehicles.
I see the administration placing our investment in the space station and its capabilities at risk.
Every time NASA lifts off, it takes the American economy with us, because it is about innovation and it is about jobs.
We are about to see the end of our Nation's ability to launch our own astronauts into space.
The NASA authorization bill allows NASA to modify any contract from the Constellation program.
Once the shuttles are retired, we will be reduced to buying seats on Russian vehicles for the foreseeable future.
I just believe, so much, that our goal was a balanced approach for manned spaceflight...
This administration places our investment in the space station and its capabilities, as well as our future exploration capabilities at serio...
We're about to see the end of our Nation's ability to launch our own astronauts into space.