[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H2324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
    AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS HITCHING A RIDE INTO SPACE WITH THE RUSSIANS

  (Mr. OLSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to point out a growing concern 
within the community of supporters for a strong human space flight 
program--American exceptionalism lagging behind Russia and other 
countries.
  Just yesterday in the Washington Post, a special advertising section 
on Russia had a front page story about their growing investment in 
human space flight. The headline read, ``American Astronauts are 
Hitching a Ride with the Russian Space Program. Russia Makes Space for 
the U.S.''
  Additional comments in the story included: ``Russia will fuel space 
exploration once again, while the U.S. vision appears dampened. As the 
United States reprioritizes its programs, the country will rely on 
Russia to take its astronauts into space.''
  Under the President's proposed budget, the Russians will be the only 
game in town for getting our astronauts to and from the International 
Space Station. The United States of America should never have to depend 
on another foreign nation to ``make space'' for our astronauts to get 
to the Space Station that the American taxpayer has largely paid for.
  Mr. Speaker, that should be a concern to all Americans.

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