Comments made by Rep. Lampson regarding Legislation introduced to allow purchase of Soyuz and Progress spacecraft from Russia

* Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, after the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy, it is clear that we are now very dependent on the Russian space program as the sole means of support for the Space Station until the Shuttle fleet returns to service.

* It is certainly conceivable that the Shuttle fleet could be grounded for some time–after the Challenger accident in 1986, the Space Shuttle fleet was grounded for 32 months.

* While the Columbia investigation is moving forward, there is always a possibility that the root cause of the accident may never be determined with absolute certainty.

* In the aftermath of the Columbia accident, it may be impossible to maintain the Space Shuttle’s viability without help from the Russians.

* Payments by NASA to Russia to cover the costs of purchasing additional Soyuz and Progress vehicles appear to be prohibited under the terms of the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000.

* The Iran Nonproliferation Act provides a narrow exception, allowing the President to request a waiver from Congress only to prevent the imminent loss of life or grievous injury to individuals aboard the International Space Station.

* But I believe the Administration needs even more flexibility under the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 to cover the costs of additional Soyuz and Progress vehicles at this time.

* Therefore, I am introducing legislation today that amends the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 to allow NASA to purchase additional Soyuz and Progress vehicles if the President notifies Congress they are needed to ensure the safety of the crew aboard the International Space Station and to maintain its operational viability while the Space Shuttle fleet is grounded.

* The safety of our astronauts should be paramount. NASA should not be prevented from doing whatever is necessary to ensure that safety is maintained.