[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 101 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1264]]
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2008

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 6063) to 
     authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, and for other purposes:

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of the 
NASA Authorization Act of 2008. It authorizes $20.2 billion for NASA in 
FY 09, including $1 billion to speed development of the Crew 
Exploration Vehicle and Crew Launch Vehicle.
  This bill authorizes increased funding for vital aeronautics research 
after several years of cuts. In fact, it authorizes $853 million for 
aeronautics research, a $341 million dollar increase over FY 07 levels.
  This includes continued funding for the next-generation air 
transportation system initiative--a collaborative federal effort to 
design a new air traffic control system that can accommodate increased 
air traffic, which is expected to double or even triple by 2025. This 
important work being conducted by engineers and scientists at NASA 
Langley will lay the groundwork for a more efficient, safer, and 
environmentally-friendly air traffic system that will reduce delays and 
allow our Nation to move more people and goods around the United States 
and around the world.
  Madam Chairman, we know that investing in aeronautics research pays 
off. The aviation industry is the number one positive contributor to 
the U.S. balance of trade, with a net contribution to this balance of 
more than $60 billion in 2007. This is directly attributable to our 
past investment in aeronautics research. EVERY aircraft, worldwide, 
uses NASA technology. And NASA Langley Research Center located in 
Hampton, Virginia has been at the forefront of developing many of these 
cutting edge technologies.
  Engineering principles developed from past research at Langley have 
contributed to overall aircraft safety and efficiency through advances 
in wing design, noise abatement, structural integrity, and fuel 
efficiency. And it is important to remember that these principles were 
developed 5, 10, 20, or even 30 years before they led to improvements 
in the commercial aircraft we see today. Though we may not see the 
benefits of today's investments in research for several decades, if we 
fail to make these investments today, we will regret that decision 20 
or 30 years from now. Our Nation's leadership position in aeronautics 
is made more secure by the commitments we make today.
  Madam Chairman, this bill recognizes that aeronautics has been an 
essential part of NASA's mission since the Agency's founding 50 years 
ago. NASA's aeronautics research and development efforts, including the 
work done by the workers at Langley Research Center in Virginia, have 
made the United States the world leader in the aeronautics industry.
  I commend Chairman Gordon and the Members of the Science and 
Technology Committee for their hard work on this bill and for bringing 
it to the full House, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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