[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JOHN ABNEY CULBERSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 26, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3093) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 
     and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2008, and for other purposes:

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Chairman, I commend the House and the 
Appropriations Committee for passing the FY 2008 Commerce, Justice, 
Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill last week.
  Back in January, I signed a bi-partisan letter along with 39 of my 
colleagues calling for an increase in NASA's budget. The President 
requested $17.3 billion, an increase of over $1 billion from FY 2007 
enacted levels. Subsequently, 23 CEOs of our country's top aerospace 
companies wrote Congress calling for a top-line increase in NASA's 
budget.
  I'm happy to report that Appropriations Committee not only listened 
but acted. This bill contains over $17.6 billion for our space program, 
$1.3 billion above current levels and $313 million on top of the 
President's request. The bill moves ahead with construction of our next 
generation human space vehicle, while ensuring that our current 
vehicle, the Space Shuttle, is fully funded so that it can continue to 
fly safely, complete construction of the International Space Station 
(ISS), and service the Hubble Space Telescope. It also restores funding 
for important missions in space science and aeronautics.
  Some of my colleagues who don't have an active space constituency in 
their district might ask why should we spend this amount of money on 
NASA? Quite simply, NASA programs are about investing in our country's 
future--our future from a scientific standpoint given all the agency 
does to promote and to inspire young people to study science, math and 
engineering; our future economically given the agency's development and 
support for new industries, just think of how many folks are watching 
this debate as a result of space-based communications; and lastly, our 
future from a national security standpoint.
  Let me go into that last point in more detail. My colleagues are well 
aware of China's irresponsible and provocative anti-satellite weapons 
test. Debris from that test is now floating in orbit and presents a 
real threat to our space-based assets. But my colleagues may be less 
aware of China's plans for manned space exploration. China has already 
flown humans in orbit and has stated plans to build a space craft to 
land people on the Moon. Thirty years ago we were in a space race with 
the Russians. Now, our main competitor is the Chinese. Frankly, I do 
not want to see the American flag on the Moon supplanted by the Chinese 
flag. That remains a real possibility if we do not properly fund NASA. 
This bill contains the full request for development of the next 
generation U.S. human space flight vehicle to get us back to the Moon 
and beyond.
  Lastly, I would like to point out one area in the bill where we could 
make some improvements once we get into Conference with the Senate. The 
ISS faces $20 million in reductions from the President's request in 
reserve funding and crew and cargo services. Given that we are entering 
into the most critical phase of construction, I believe it is vital 
that we fully fund the ISS. So I hope the Committee will be able to 
restore these funds.
  I thank my colleagues for supporting this important legislation.

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