[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H1295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SUPPORT NASA'S CONSTELLATION PROGRAM

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
opposition to the President's proposal to cancel the NASA Constellation 
Program, which covers the Orion Crew capsule, the Altair Lunar Lander, 
and the Ares I and Ares V rockets. These programs, which together 
comprise our human spaceflight program, were authorized in both 2005 
and 2008 by Republican and Democratic Congresses.
  It is under the Constellation Program that NASA is currently 
developing new launch vehicles and spacecraft capable of traveling to 
the Moon, Mars, and other destinations. Not only does canceling the 
Constellation Program jeopardize America's leadership role in human 
space exploration, but it will have detrimental effects on our economy.
  The issue is it will take years for the commercial spaceflight 
industry to get up to speed to where the level of competence exists in 
NASA today. Our government has already invested literally years and 
billions of dollars in this program. We should build upon these 
investments and not abandon them.
  Our country can support the commercial spaceflight industry, but not 
at the expense of our human spaceflight programs.
  It is my hope, Madam Speaker, that this Congress will continue NASA's 
Constellation Program.

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