Hutchison Statement on the 25th Anniversary of Challenger Accident

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) today made the following statement to mark the 25th anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger accident on January 28, 1986: “Twenty-five years ago our nation, with its eyes turned skyward, was reminded of the perilous journey from Earth to space.  The destruction of the Challenger space shuttle […]

Senate Commerce Committee Members Respond to NASA Report

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senate Commerce Committee Members, including Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Senator David Vitter (R-La.), today issued a joint statement responding to a NASA report this week in which the space agency says it cannot build a capsule and heavy-lift rocket based on the cost and schedule outlined by Congress:

Hutchison Lauds Measure to Boost Math and Science Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today praised Congressional passage of legislation that would reauthorize two science agencies responsible for supporting basic research, while improving math and science education. The measure authorizes $41 billion less in funding than the House of Representatives passed version of the legislation and eliminates duplicate programs within the Departments of Commerce, Energy and Education. The bill also includes a provision sponsored by Senator Hutchison modeled after the highly successful UTeach initiative in Texas. The provision would enable participating colleges and universities to allow students who major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) to concurrently become certified as elementary and secondary school teachers. In 1997, the University of Texas at Austin started the UTeach program which has become a national benchmark for teaching excellence. The bill passed the Senate last week and is cosponsored by Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M). It was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives today and now heads to the President to be signed into law.

Hutchison Calls Successful SpaceX Launch Important Milestone

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today praised the successful launch, re-entry and recovery of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule and called it an important milestone in the development of cargo services, and eventually crew transportation services, needed to support and sustain the International Space Station.

Hutchison Tells NASA and Administration to Implement New Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During an oversight hearing on NASA’s implementation of the agency’s authorization act enacted earlier this year, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today told NASA and the Obama Administration that it must follow through by implementing the law into policy.

Hutchison Lauds Final Passage of Bill to Preserve America’s Future in Space

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved legislation negotiated by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Chairman of the Science and Space Subcommittee, to safeguard America’s human spaceflight capabilities while balancing commercial space investment with a robust mission for NASA. The bill now moves on to the President for his signature. The other sponsors of bill are Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), David Vitter (R-La.), and George LeMieux (R-Fla.). The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate in August.

Senate Approves Bill Championed by Senator Hutchison to Preserve America’s Human Spaceflight Capabilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate today approved bipartisan legislation championed by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, to safeguard America’s human spaceflight capabilities while balancing commercial space investment with a robust mission for NASA. The bill is also supported by Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Senators Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), David Vitter (R-La.) and George LeMieux (R-Fla.).