WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today voiced concerns about the future of ’s space program during a Commerce Committee hearing on the recent report on the challenges facing the nation’s long-term human space flight programs.

“America is at a critical stage in our nations’ space exploration program,” said Senator Hutchison.  “We are on the verge of finally completing the assembly of the International Space Station.  But we stand on the brink of losing our advantage in space. Looming decisions on the future of the next generation of human space flight vehicles could potentially make the plan to use the station until 2020 an empty gesture. This is unacceptable and would threaten ’s forty year space advantage. The panel’s report confirms what many of us have been warning against for several years, and Congress and the President should heed this wakeup call.  We must work together to address these mounting challenges if our nation is to continue its role as a world leader in space.”

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