CHAIRMAN SHERWOOD BOEHLERT (R-NY)
OPENING STATEMENT FOR NASA BUDGET HEARING
I'm pleased to welcome everyone here today for our annual review of NASA's budget. As I think
everyone knows, this hearing was scheduled before the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia on
February 1st. Still, that tragedy casts a pall over our proceedings today - both emotionally and
substantively.
The emotional impact is obvious, and I suppose the substantive ramifications are as well: it's simply
impossible to get a clear fix at this point on how much the human space flight program will require
in the upcoming fiscal year. And that, of course, raises questions about the NASA budget as a
whole. Still, we must begin to plan, and there are numerous relevant questions we need to ask today
on topics other than the Shuttle investigation or that program's budget.
I should say, though, that having met with Admiral Gehman at length yesterday, I am more
convinced than ever that the Columbia Accident Investigation Board has the independence and
resources it needs to conduct a broad, thorough and useful investigation. The Board does still need
some additional members, and I expect that more will be appointed within the next few weeks. I
look forward to cooperating with Admiral Gehman as the Committee conducts its own bipartisan
investigation.
The Gehman investigation could take as long as six months - although portions of it may be
completed more quickly.
But we have to assume that the Shuttle may be grounded for an extended period. I understand that
this morning Administrator O'Keefe will reveal how NASA intends to operate the International
Space Station while the Shuttle is out of commission. I look forward to being able to pursue any
questions that plan may raise.
Still, our primary focus this morning is on the FY 04 budget submission, which itself raises a host
of issues. I am particularly concerned that spending on aeronautics is slated to decline even as the
budget calls for healthy increases for the agency overall. I find this baffling at a time when the need
for aeronautics research is so apparent. Unless we're going to rename NASA and call it N-
apostrophe-SA, I think the aeronautics budget needs to be rethought.
I should add that we will be holding additional hearings on aeronautics research at both NASA and
the Federal Aviation Administration in the coming weeks, including a full Committee hearing on
March 12 with the members of the Congressionally-created Aerospace Commission that was
chaired by one of my predecessors at the Committee, Bob Walker.
I also want to be sure, among other things, that Earth Science research is getting its due. Earth
Science is a critical NASA mission, of enormous scientific utility, and vital to sorting out some key
questions of practical as well as intellectual consequence, such as the nature of global climate
change.
And I know all of us here are interested in learning more about NASA's still conceptual plans for
the Orbital Space Plane. Obviously, research related to replacing the Shuttle seems more pressing
with every passing day.
