[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 127 (Thursday, September 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL AEROSPACE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 9, 2009

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Ehlers for his 
leadership on this bill and I am proud to be a cosponsor of this 
important legislation. National Aerospace Day recognizes the importance 
of NASA, its world-class employees and the decades of successes those 
employees have accumulated for NASA. NASA contributes greatly to the 
advancement of scientific research and is responsible for technology 
that we use every single day.
  Yesterday, the Summary Report by the Review of U.S. Human Spaceflight 
Plans Committee was released. The Committee's report confirms what 
we've known for a long time--NASA is underfunded. Supporting and 
adequately funding NASA's programs that contribute to its human space 
flight initiative is essential for the U.S. to maintain its global 
leadership.
  While I agree with the Commission that NASA's research centers like 
NASA Glenn in Brook Park, Ohio need more funding in order to achieve 
the mandates given to them by Congress and the President, I am 
particularly concerned with the recommendations in the Committee Report 
to privatize important parts of NASA. Privatization of a public 
resource is dangerous. We must not let ourselves fall for the lure of 
the potential for short term savings when privatization frequently ends 
up costing the taxpayer much more than purported savings, not to 
mention well-paying, stable jobs. At a time of record high unemployment 
rates, we cannot afford to compromise the integrity of one of our 
nation's greatest assets by outsourcing NASA's work.
  I want to also be clear that NASA must not become an arm of the 
Department of Defense. NASA has always focused on civilian research, 
which has allowed it to avoid becoming subsumed by the perpetual 
imperative of national security.
  NASA's aeronautics research is particularly important because NASA is 
able to develop longer term, high-risk enabling technologies that our 
private industry is unable and unwilling to perform. If we lose 
aeronautics at NASA, we will cede our global leadership in the field to 
Europe.
  I have the privilege of having the NASA Glenn Research Center in my 
district. NASA Glenn serves as an economic engine for the Greater 
Cleveland Community and for the State of Ohio. In the year 2007 alone, 
the economic output of NASA Glenn was $1.2 billion. As of 2007, NASA 
Glenn was responsible for over 8,000 jobs and household earnings 
amounting to $402 million in Ohio alone.
  NASA Glenn's employees have been global leaders in their field for 
decades. In fact, Glenn has won 98 of the 150 R&D 100 Awards from R&D 
Magazine that have been granted to NASA since 1966, more than all the 
other NASA centers combined. Of over 600 national laboratories, Glenn 
is in the top 10 for these awards.
  NASA Glenn specializes in space flight systems development, 
aeropropulsion, space propulsion, power systems, communications, and 
human-related systems. They develop cleaner technologies for space 
propulsion that is safer, more reliable and more affordable. NASA's 
expertise in renewable energy and energy efficient technologies will be 
critical to a burgeoning green economy.
  NASA Glenn plays a vital role in developing NASA's future generation 
of space flight vehicles and is the lead developer of the lunar 
lander's ascent stage propulsion system--the system responsible for 
getting our astronauts back to earth from the moon. The Center is vital 
in training and recruiting the next generation of employees that will 
work on future space flight missions to the Moon and Mars through its 
educational partnership programs with local universities.
  I am proud of the work done at NASA Glenn and of the important 
contributions NASA has made to our Nation. Congress has an obligation 
to fully support NASA and I strongly urge passage of this bill.

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