[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H417-H418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1730
                    EXPLORING SPACE MORE EFFICIENTLY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pearce). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, now, some more than 7 days 
after the fateful return of the Columbia seven, those of us from Texas 
and around the Nation are quick to understand the headline in a local 
newspaper that says, Astronauts, the hero next door. For those of us in 
Texas, these were, in fact, our neighbors, our friends, certainly those 
who many worshiped with. But today, now more than ever, we recognize 
that these individuals were willing to give the ultimate sacrifice, and 
that was their lives, for the betterment of humanity.
  Unfortunately, what tragedy causes us to do is to reflect, to 
understand that what we often take for granted is, in fact, precious 
and unique. It is unique to send man, woman, humanity into space. It is 
unique what the United States has been able to do now for almost 40 
years.
  I want to applaud the NASA employees' commitment that they have as a 
unified group. I know that they are hurting because of this tragedy.
  I have always said over the last 7 days that it is important for us 
to heal and to be able to acknowledge the pain that the families are 
feeling, but today was appropriate for the first congressional hearing 
to be held; and I thank the Members of the other body and the chairman 
of the House Committee on Science and the ranking member for convening 
us today to begin the process of reality.
  The words that I often say are that we find fault without blame, that 
we are not afraid to acknowledge mistakes and that we make it better. 
For example, it is important to note that there is now some interest in 
an orbital plane, a very good vehicle, but we must be reminded that 
what the space shuttle meant was not just a transportation vehicle, but 
it was a floating laboratory where scientists, medical professionals 
and others were able to engage in science and research that helped to 
create better lives for all of us, research in diabetes, research in 
HIV/AIDS, heart disease, cancer, stroke, research in prostate cancer 
and breast cancer.
  So we cannot fail to understand the mission and out of fear or 
expeditiousness move to another vehicle because we are concerned about 
this tragedy. Be concerned and get the facts.
  We understand that the shuttle cost $450 million. The fatality rate 
is about 1 in 57. On the other hand, we realize that there are better 
ways of enhancing the safety. One of them, of course, is finding the 
facts and being able to provide the resources for putting the United 
States at the cutting edge of science. I cannot imagine that because of 
where we are that we will not listen to the families who issued the 
statement, ``The human space flight must continue.'' That should be the 
legacy.
  Yet we must not fall away from the fact that in 1994 a commissioned 
NASA study by Stanford and Carnegie-Mellon said that 15 percent of 
tiles could cause 85 percent of failure, or of the observations of a 
NASA engineer in 1997 that said debris striking the tile would cause 
damage. Let us not run away from facts or the mistakes.
  I believe that we have seen a considerable imbalance of funding. I am 
gratified by the increase that we see coming in the 2004 fiscal year 
proposal, and I hope the Congress will recognize

[[Page H418]]

that in addition to the moneys we need and have received, or will 
receive, for the investigation, let us put NASA and the space program 
and human space flight on the track it needs to be.
  Let us not forget the dream that we would go to Mars, we would go to 
the moon, but most importantly, what we would do would enhance humanity 
with the research and understanding of these bright and outstanding men 
and women who are willing to give us the ultimate sacrifice.
  Can we as Americans and the United States Congress do any less for 
them? Yes, these are ordinary people who have been chosen to do 
extraordinary things. These are the astronauts, the heroes next door. 
We cannot falter, we cannot stop or stumble. We must pay tribute to 
their legacy by exploring space more efficiently, more safely and with 
the resources we need to have.

                          ____________________