Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX) issued
the following statement in support of NASA:

“I’m committed to NASA and the Johnson Space Center.

As a member of the
Appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA, I’m working closely with Chairman
Walsh in preparation for markup of the appropriations bill.

I will fight
during consideration of the bill to make sure NASA is viable and healthy.
I’ll continue pushing to make sure that the International Space Station meets
its mission of becoming a premier research facility.

The Station must be
capable of maintaining a full 7-person crew, which means the Crew Return
Vehicle and Habitation Module cannot be slashed.

The appropriations process
takes a long time, but I’m pushing to secure the funding NASA needs to reach
excellence in space.”