[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 150 (Wednesday, September 25, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1800
                       QUESTIONING FAA LEADERSHIP

  (Mr. KILEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KILEY. Madam Speaker, yesterday, FAA Administrator Michael 
Whitaker testified before the House Aviation Subcommittee.
  In response to my questions about his agency's fines and the delays 
they have imposed on SpaceX, he made a number of statements that appear 
to be completely false.
  For example, he said that SpaceX launched without a license. That is 
simply not true. There are two possibilities. Either, number one, he 
doesn't know what is going on at his own agency, or number two, he 
deliberately deceived a congressional committee. Either possibility 
raises serious questions about his fitness to lead the FAA.
  I have sent a letter along with questions for the record to 
Administrator Whitaker, which he is compelled to answer to explain his 
false testimony.
  Madam Speaker, I implore him to look at this chart: Objects launched 
into space over time. The point where the United States breaks away 
from Russia and China and sees absolutely exponential growth is when 
SpaceX started launching rockets.
  This company and the broader commercial space industry are tremendous 
national assets, and those seeking to hold back their progress for, at 
best, arbitrary bureaucratic reasons are acting directly against our 
national interests.

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