National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - July 22, 2005)
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Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this valuable legislation to fund NASA, and I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) for his extraordinary leadership on this issue.
Americans have high hopes for the future of the space program. But if we are to explore the boundaries of our final frontier through the President's Vision for Space Exploration, NASA and its manned space flight program must be adequately supported. This legislation does just that, and it also gives NASA Administrator Mike Griffin the tools he needs to work towards the completion of the International Space Station.
In the 1960s, President Kennedy helped us begin the race to the Moon. And the United States reached that lofty goal six times with the Nation watching and listening to every mission. We won that race then, and now we must adopt again the same spirit of enthusiasm for space exploration. Accordingly, President Bush has laid out a plan that sets a goal of returning Americans to the Moon within 15 years.
However, the success of the Vision For Space Exploration is predicated on these goals being in the heart of tomorrow's scientists and engineers. To meet this need, the President's plan will again make space exploration an exciting and educational priority for America. He has made it clear within the next half century, America will be the world leader in space exploration with missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
We must keep in mind that we are not the only ones pursuing this goal, and America is once again in a space race. European countries are peacefully competing against us in a race to be the first country to land a man on Mars. And to win this race, NASA must work with the private sector, universities around the Nation, and possibly other countries to overcome the most challenging technological obstacles NASA has yet to face.
The successes that are surely to come from the vision will benefit not only America and its manned space flight program, but humanity and our planet will be direct benefactors of this historic undertaking.
In a world tattered by war and terrorism, the NASA space exploration program brings the hope and promise of a brighter tomorrow for our children and for future generations. Our goals to explore the endless boundaries of our universe will and must continue. They are efforts linked to no political party or branch of government. Our need and want to explore space and the bodies around the Earth belong not just to Americans but to humanity. Indeed, they are efforts to continue what humans have done since our inception and that is to explore.
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