Ralph Hall: “I had not planned to speak during the Floor consideration of the VA-HUD-IA appropriations conference report. However, I…”

“I had not planned to speak during the Floor consideration of the VA-HUD-IA appropriations conference report. However, I have changed my mind because I believe that it is important that we give some consideration to the future of the International Space Station program as we debate the level of funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Given all of the uncertainty that has been surrounding the Space Station program of late, I am pleased that the appropriations conference has been able to provide almost all of the requested funding for the Station. I also am heartened that the conference retained funding needed for the eventual restoration of capabilities that were cut from the Space Station program by the Administration earlier this year. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Science Committee, on which I am privileged to serve as the Ranking Member, held a hearing on the report of the independent task force that was charged with examining the current state of the International Space Station program. I expect that the task force's report will be an important input into the decisions that Congress and the Administration will have to make concerning the future of the Space Station program. All of us owe Tom Young and his team a debt of gratitude for their dedicated efforts over the last several months. As many of you know, I have long been a supporter of the Space Station.”