Rep. Pete Olson Statement on Augustine Report

Washington, DC – Rep. Pete Olson, the Ranking Member of the House Science and Technology, Space Subcommittee, today issued the following statement in response to the final report issued by the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee:

“I would like to thank Norm Augustine and the panel members of the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Committee for their efforts. It is my deep hope that the Administration responds to their panel’s work with a clear and sustainable path for the future of our human spaceflight program. We cannot at this juncture assume America’s continued leadership in space if we fail to make the commitments necessary to put us on the path to escaping low earth orbit and having a national program that yields scientific benefits, technology innovations, and a new generation of scientists and engineers. I urge President Obama to do the right thing and take this opportunity to enable America to maintain its global leadership in human spaceflight.

“The commitment needed is achievable if we target resources properly. That is why I joined with most of my Texas colleagues recently in urging the President to redirect $3 billion of the remaining $292 billion in unspent stimulus funding to put NASA on the right path to achieve the necessary goals set for it by Congress and the Augustine report.”