WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today said the NASA reauthorization bill, which the president is expected to sign into law, provides clear direction and a new path forward for America’s space agency.  The bill was approved by the Senate in August and by the House in September.

“Congress has given NASA clear direction to put its labor force back to work on designing and implementing a new space launch system,” said Senator Hutchison.  “The bill, which the president is expected to sign into law, provides a new path forward for America’s space agency. The time has come to execute the bill Congress has approved.  This is a crucial period for our vaunted space agency and our nation’s proud heritage of innovation.  Only months ago, NASA was at a crossroads as the administration’s NASA proposal poised America to surrender its half-century of leadership in space exploration. Our nation’s manned spaceflight program was approaching extinction just as the International Space Station was finally nearing completion.  This new direction will allow America again to reach for the stars and put its best and brightest minds back to work trailblazing a path into the future.”

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