Tom Feeney's Statement on Shuttle Gap and Washington Post Story

Tom Feeney's Statement on Shuttle Gap and Washington Post Story

(Oviedo, FL) - On the heels of today's Washington Post story titled, NASA Wary of Relying on Russia, Tom Feeney (R-Oviedo), Ranking Member on the Space and Aeronautics subcommittee released the following statement:

"Today's article rightfully highlights the gap and makes us increasingly aware that NASA's resources are shrinking in real terms while the agency is charged with maintaining America's preeminence as a spacefaring nation. Maintaining such preeminence includes developing a new generation of human spaceflight vehicles to replace the Space Shuttle.

"NASA should continue its progress in completing the International Space Station and developing the Constellation Program -- the Shuttle's successor. America's space and aviation endeavors must remain second-to-none. Space is vital to our national security and for sustaining economic growth. Increasing Chinese assertiveness in space must also be a key American concern.

"I believe that it is well within America's capabilities to minimize this gap. This Administration must ask and Congress must provide the resources to get the job done," said Feeney.

Washington Post story is here

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