Nasa Reauthorization Act of 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8958, the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024. I am honored to represent the Johnson Space Center and privileged to chair the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. As an original cosponsor of this bill, I can share with you that it is the result of a lot of hard work.

We were able to reach a bipartisan consensus that keeps NASA on track to return to the Moon, maintain our leadership role in low-Earth orbit, continue to explore our solar system and universe, and push the boundaries of flight.

All too often, changes in administrations lead to upended plans at NASA. While ever-changing goals and priorities challenge all agencies, it is particularly problematic for NASA, which undertakes extremely complex programs that literally take decades to accomplish.

The bill before us today provides the necessary guidance and support to ensure NASA's success and meet the rising challenge that the Chinese Communist Party poses to the United States in space.

I hope that the other Chamber will seize the opportunity to take up this important piece of legislation before the end of this year so that NASA will have the certainty that it needs to carry out the bold activities that we have tasked it with.

I also thank the chairman of the Science Committee, my friend from Oklahoma, Frank Lucas, for his support in drafting this legislation, as well as his leadership on the committee over the past 6 years. I also thank Ranking Members Lofgren and Sorensen for their collegiality through this process and for their important contributions to the bill.

Finally, I thank the staff for their tireless work. Charlie Scales, Kelsey McBarron, Vishal Amin, Brent Blevins, and Tom Hammond from the majority staff and Pam Whitney and Ashlee Wilkins from the minority staff all put in a lot of time to get us where we are today. I thank them, as well.

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