[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2246-S2247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of James Bridenstine

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I am here to join Ranking Member Nelson 
and my colleagues to voice my opposition to James Bridenstine, who has 
been nominated to be the next Administrator of the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration.
  NASA is an agency that has been at the center of our Nation's modern 
history and impacts the daily lives of millions of Americans. The world 
watched in awe as Neil Armstrong took that first step onto the surface 
of the Moon in July of 1969, wearing a NASA patch on his spacesuit. 
Today, we marvel at photos of Pluto's surface, captured by NASA's New 
Horizons mission in July of 2015. From the closest to the farthest 
reaches of our own solar system, NASA is always there.
  NASA is at a critical point in its history, and that is because the 
United States is poised to unleash the next great feat of human 
innovation as we look to unlock the true possibilities of space. To 
accomplish these goals, we need a solid foundation, and that starts and 
ends with the science conducted at NASA every single day. NASA's 
mission involves not just revealing faraway worlds but investigating 
the realities of our own. In order to truly do that, we need continued 
scientific research of the highest caliber.
  The scientists working at NASA today are among the very best in the 
world. NASA, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, or NOAA, produces and analyzes the most robust data we 
have on our planet's changing climate. The OCO-3 program monitors 
Earth's atmospheric carbon levels. The CLARREO Pathfinder mission 
measures Earth's atmospheric heat. The Deep Space Climate Observatory 
satellite provides our scientists comprehensive data sets that are 
crucial to understanding the vast changes that are underway on our own 
planet this very second.
  On NASA's website right now, there is a web page entitled 
``Scientific Consensus: Earth's Climate is Warming.'' On this web page, 
based on NASA's vast collection of data, it continues, ``The impacts of 
climate change are already occurring. Sea levels are rising, and snow 
and ice cover is decreasing. . . . The warming climate likely will 
cause more floods, droughts and heat waves. The heat waves may get 
hotter, and hurricanes may get stronger.'' Those are NASA's words, and 
we know them to be true because science has proved it.
  NASA's science is the gold standard. Its scientific work is crucial 
to our understanding the threat that climate change poses to our 
Nation, our economy, and the health of all Americans and people around 
the world. But Houston, we have a problem. NASA's science, NASA's 
missions, and American leadership will all be in serious jeopardy if 
James Bridenstine is confirmed to be the next Administrator of NASA. 
Under his leadership, NASA would come to stand for ``not accepting 
scientific advice.''
  Congressman Bridenstine's record is one of questioning climate change 
and undermining science. He has repeatedly questioned the scientific 
consensus and the threats of climate change. Before changing his 
website, it stated: ``Global warming theories should not drive national 
energy policy without clearer evidence.'' Global warming isn't theory; 
it is based on science. Unfortunately, Mr. Bridenstine's words do not 
reflect the accepted science behind climate change, including the very

[[Page S2247]]

science that NASA has been collecting and needs to continue to collect.
  Under President Trump, we know that fear is rampant across the 
Federal Government among scientists. It is no surprise that the 
environmental and scientific communities across the country are asking 
that we vote down Congressman Bridenstine's nomination based on his 
voting record and his clear denial of accepted science. If Mr. 
Bridenstine is confirmed as the Administrator of NASA, he will bring 
that fear to its scientists at a time when we need them more than ever.
  It is not only his views on science that make him unsuitable to lead 
NASA. NASA's workforce is comprised of more than 18,000 workers who 
identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer. NASA has 
officially stated that ``diversity and inclusion are integral to 
mission success.'' In a 2013 speech on the floor of the U.S. House of 
Representatives, Congressman Bridenstine declared: ``Marriage exists to 
bring a man and a woman together as husband and wife, to be a father 
and mother to children.'' He has stated repeatedly that he would 
support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man 
and one woman.
  Congressman Bridenstine's personal views and voting record against 
people who identify as LGBTQ should immediately disqualify him from 
consideration for leading this diverse agency. NASA is an agency of 
inspiration, an agency that showcases the very best of American ideals: 
scientific integrity, innovation, diversity, fearlessness, resolve, and 
hope. Mr. Bridenstine puts these ideals at risk and is not qualified to 
lead this agency.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose his nomination. I urge a ``no'' vote.
  I yield back.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gardner). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.