SE Texas Times

U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) has expressed his approval following the House's passage of the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (H.R. 8958). This bipartisan legislation aims to reaffirm the United States' commitment to leading global space and science endeavors, with a focus on commercial partnerships and international collaboration in advancing space exploration and scientific research.

“Today’s bipartisan bill will keep NASA on track to return to the Moon, strengthen our leadership role in low-Earth orbit, enable further exploration of our solar system and universe, and push the boundaries of flight,” said Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin. “By cementing our goals and providing much-needed guidance, we ensure NASA’s continued success amongst changing administrations while enabling it to meet the rising challenge that the Chinese Communist Party poses in space. I thank Chairman Lucas for his support and will continue working to get this critical legislation across the finish line.”

Science, Space, and Technology Chairman Frank Lucas also commented on the importance of this bill: “NASA plays a pivotal role in driving our nation’s science and technology competitiveness. Therefore, we must ensure the agency has the framework needed to navigate the increasingly competitive global space sector. H.R. 8958 is a comprehensive bill that provides NASA with the necessary direction to maintain our U.S. leadership in space and steer with our democratic values."

Lucas highlighted key aspects of the bill: "This includes firm commitments to advancing human space exploration, direction for ongoing and future missions, and support for bold scientific research. Today’s passage of this critical Science Committee legislation is a much-needed step to ensure we advance as the world’s premier space agency while breaking barriers and pushing the limits of our achievements."

He added gratitude towards those involved: "Many thanks to Ranking Member Lofgren, Chairman Babin, and Ranking Member Sorensen for their leadership on this bill and all our members, staff, and stakeholders for their support and valuable input. I am eager for this bill to progress through the Senate and be signed into law. It’s been over seven years since we comprehensively reauthorized NASA. We must act swiftly to guarantee success now and for the future.”

The highlights of H.R. 8958 include:

- Continued support for human space exploration programs such as Artemis.

- Maximizing utilization of the International Space Station while transitioning towards commercial services.

- Promoting development in space technology.

- Advancing next-generation aviation technology through transformative aeronautics research.

- Fostering scientific discovery by maintaining a balanced portfolio of missions.

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