WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee executive session, Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) detailed how the NASA Authorization Act of 2026 delivers critical funding and a clear strategic direction to ensure the United States —not China—leads the next era of space exploration.  

Sen. Cruz also highlighted the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, a package of more than 17 bipartisan bills aimed at updating the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) weather research and forecasting programs.  

Here are Sen. Cruz’s remarks as prepared for delivery: 

“Good morning.  The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will come to order. 

“Today we are considering two consequential reauthorization bills: the NASA Authorization Act of 2026 and the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026. 

“The U.S. finds itself in an intensifying space race with the People’s Republic of China.  Later this spring, NASA will launch astronauts to circumnavigate the Moon on Artemis II.  This mission, which is the next step in the agency’s Moon to Mars Program, will be the first crewed lunar flyby in fifty years.  America is prepared to lead in exploration, secure the ultimate strategic high ground, and shape the rules of the 21^st century space economy.  

“Yet NASA faces a series of challenges: rising program costs, supply chain vulnerabilities, and transition risks, especially as we move beyond the lifetime of the International Space Station.  Those challenges culminated in an announcement last Friday that NASA was making major changes to the Artemis missions and our eventual return to the lunar surface.   

Today, the Commerce Committee will help guide those changes with the NASA Authorization Act.  Our bill authorizes critical funding for—and gives a strategic direction to—the agency, in line with the priorities of Administrator Isaacman and the Trump administration.  It also builds on the $10 billion investment this Committee gave to NASA in the Working Families Tax Cut Act. 

“The bill has dozens of priorities backed by members on both sides of the aisle, from supporting hypersonics research to embracing nuclear propulsion. 

“Let me touch on a few highlights of the NASA Authorization Act.  The bill— 

• Directs NASA to create a permanent “moon base” so we can get there before the Chinese; 
• Keeps American astronauts in space, extending the ISS through 2032 and requiring the launch of two independent commercial space stations before the ISS can be retired; 
• Protects against disclosure of NASA tech secrets to Chinese spies; and 
• Restores fiscal discipline while modernizing NASA’s workforce through public-private partnerships. 

“Space is not just symbolic; it is strategic.  The NASA Authorization Act ensures that America—not China—will lead the next era of exploration. 

“Now, a word about the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026.  The Weather Act updates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s research and forecasting programs, ensuring that the agency remains focused on its core public-safety mission.  The bill is aimed at improving the accuracy and actionability of forecasts and weather warnings, as well as modernizing weather systems.  It addresses hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, landslides, droughts, and atmospheric rivers.  It will go a long way toward modernizing radars and satellites, leveraging commercial data, and integrating artificial intelligence capabilities into NOAA programming.   

“I am also happy to say the bill will reform the NOAA Weather Radio program, a critical safety system that I worked to improve following the tragic floods we saw in Texas last July.  All told, the Weather Act packages multiple bipartisan pieces of legislation, many of which have previously passed out of committee and five of which passed the Senate last session.   

“I want to end by thanking the majority and minority staffs, member LAs, and the committee clerks who spent countless days, evenings, and weekends working on these major pieces of legislation.  Thank you for your dedication to getting these bills across the finish line.   

“And a special word of thanks to Dave Turner, space lead for the Minority, who will soon be enjoying a well-earned retirement.  With that, I recognize Ranking Member Cantwell for her opening remarks.” 

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