Political Quotes

“I rise to support the amendment that Mr. Olson has offered, and I am delighted that we have the opportunity to work together collaboratively with the chairman and with Mr. Dicks on this very important issue. I would like to say publicly that Democrats and Republicans in the State of Texas have worked enthusiastically together on supporting NASA and human space exploration. I'm sorry that I will not have the opportunity to support Mr. Olson's amendment or vote for it. He is absolutely right, human space flight is conducted in exactly one agency, NASA, and the general Houston area and Texas are impacted enormously. We have already lost 4,000 jobs. There will be a decrease of $1 billion going to NASA Johnson. That will impact the transition, if you will, in human space exploration. One very well known member of our community, Captain Mark Kelly, the husband of our dear and beloved Member, Congresswoman Giffords, will have the opportunity to be on one of the final shuttles. But what most of us are not aware of, because our memory fades, is how much we gained from human space exploration. Research in HIV/AIDS and stroke and heart disease and weather research, all improving the quality of life for Americans. So I stand solemnly behind continuing to fund human space exploration and join Mr. Olson in the leadership that he has given. This is a tight budget, but the President talked about investing in competitiveness, creating jobs. NASA creates jobs.…”