Sheila Jackson Lee: “I am very pleased tonight to acknowledge that there is a lot of energy behind the engine of NASA and the Constellation…”

“I am very pleased tonight to acknowledge that there is a lot of energy behind the engine of NASA and the Constellation Program. There is a lot of interest across America, not so much for the individual States that are impacted but for the research engine of the international space station and the importance of human space exploration. Today, I will introduce, along with 16 cosponsors, H. Res. 1150, which declares NASA a national security interest and asset. It emphasizes the importance of the work of NASA. As well, it indicates that the elimination of the Constellation Program will, in fact, create a national security risk to the United States and will diminish the Nation's efforts to advance scientific research in space. In addition, we are asking and indicating that there should be partnerships between universities and that NASA centers should be established to provide research opportunities to conduct research on behalf of the United States at the international space station. In addition, this legislation will ask for the full funding of the Constellation Program. We must save NASA. We must save jobs. This is an American imperative.”