2:37:03 to 2:37:22( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: are affected by the decisions, and i would hope that my colleagues would respect the judgment of the senators from maryland a vir mr. president, this is a very important bill, it's a very good bill. it modernizes our f.a., it provides for the safety, convenience, and as i said earlier, will save time, save

2:38:06 to 2:38:27( Edit History Discussion )

Byron Dorgan: accomplish many objectives that are so important for our country country: air safety and investment in infrastructure and passenger bill of rights. and it's bipartisan. i mean, it represents all of the best of what we should be doing around here. it came out of the commerce committee on a bipartisan basis and we discussion. there are a couple of other discussions prior to the completion of the bill and one of them deals with the subject

2:38:49 to 2:39:09( Edit History Discussion )

Byron Dorgan: 4:30 p.m. be for debate only equally divided and controlled between senators rockefeer and hutchison or their designees. further, that at 4:30 p.m., the ensign amendment number reported for consideration and that it be modified with the changes at the desk, with the time until 5:30 p.m. for debate with respect to that amendment

2:39:31 to 2:39:52( Edit History Discussion )

Byron Dorgan: the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. that if it does not achieve the threshold, than it be withdrawn -- then it be withdrawn. further, that it also be in order for the amendment to be withdrawn prior to the vote. that upon disposition of amendment number 3427 -- excuse me, 3476, as modified, the

2:40:17 to 2:40:39( Edit History Discussion )

Byron Dorgan: managers and leaders, be considered and agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. that the substitute amendment as amended be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, that the bill as amended be read a third time and the senate then proceed to vote on passage of the bill. that upon passage, the title amendment, which is at the desk, be considere and agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid

2:41:01 to 2:41:22( Edit History Discussion )

Byron Dorgan: on monday, allow us as a senate to finish the f.a. reauthorization bill. and it has so much to commend it for our country and i'm really pleased, through negotiation with so many people -- senator hutchison, senator kyl on that side, senator warner and others -- that we were able to reach agreement so that we will have a way forward dealing with some -- a couple of

2:41:45 to 2:42:05( Edit History Discussion )

Byron Dorgan: an amendment i've filed on this bill concerning the space program. for decades, the space shuttle has been a symbol for american innovation and ingenuity and the pioneering sneert has made our -- spirit that has made our nation the most technically -- technical untilly advanced -- technical untilly advanced country in the world. today, however, on space program

2:42:28 to 2:42:40( Edit History Discussion )

Byron Dorgan: without objection, so ordered. the senator from florida. mr. lemieux: the space program is at a crossroads between one project and the next. for years, we've had soaring

2:43:02 to 2:43:23( Edit History Discussion )

spending and eventually, i believe, to the demise of our space program. in 2004, the constellation program was announced as a follow-up to the space shuttle program. that vision was endorsed by congress in 2005 and in 2008, and in both years, we directed

2:43:45 to 2:44:05( Edit History Discussion )

it's public law 110-422. and if i may read from it, it says, "the congress finds on this 50th anniversary of the establishment of the national aeronautics and space administration, the following." it goes on to say, one of the points that it finds: "developing united states human space flight capabilities. to allow independent american

2:44:27 to 2:44:47( Edit History Discussion )

as possible and to ensure the effective development of the united states heavy lift launch capability for missions beyond earth and low earth orbit." mr. president, i ask unanimous consent to enter that portion of the public law into the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. lemieux: that was a y

2:45:09 to 2:45:30( Edit History Discussion )

risking the jobs of more than 7,000 rocket scientists in florida as well as jobs throughout this country in more than 20 states. i understand that there are many private conversations going own between members of this beepped the administration of this body and this administration concerning this topic. i think it is important to

2:45:54 to 2:46:14( Edit History Discussion )

and he said this: one of the areas where we're endangered of losing our competive edge is our space program. when i was growing up nasa inspired the world with achievements that we're still proud of. today we have an administration -- this is referring to the bush administration -- that has set ambitious goals for nasa without the resources to reach them.

2:46:37 to 2:46:58( Edit History Discussion )

the nasa aeronautics and space council to have a plan to explore the solar system, a plan that enlists international partners in the private sector. as america leads the world to long-term exploration of the moon, mars, and beyond. he goes on to say a few more things. so we know that the congress

2:47:20 to 2:47:40( Edit History Discussion )

-- and planets beyond. but today the president's budget scraps that plan. we have no plan to get into low-earth orbit after the space shut sl retired. we are going to rely upon the russ international space station. exactly what candidate obama said wehould be worried about.

2:48:02 to 2:48:25( Edit History Discussion )

how money is spent, how programs are funded. this congress has twice said that we will fund the constellation program. that we will fund the programs for the next generation of spacecraft to take us into low-earth orbit. this amendment reiterates the federal law prohibiting nasa from using funds in fiscal year

2:48:47 to 2:49:07( Edit History Discussion )

they must follow the law and this amendment intends to hold them to that. th amendment sends a clear message that there are no loopholes, seclusions or other -- exclusions that the agency can use to kill the program. i say publicly here, mr. president, on the floor of the united states senate, whether or not this amendment passes on this bill, whether or not this

2:49:29 to 2:49:50( Edit History Discussion )

they cannot do that until congress makes a change in the law. to do so would be unlawful. the future of the space program rests with congress, not a budget proposal submitted by this administration or, in fact, any administration. as candidate obama agreed, without constellation, the united states will be relying on

2:50:12 to 2:50:33( Edit History Discussion )

president kennedy whose vision put a man on the moon in the end of the 1960's. he said: why should we settle for anything less? to quote him, we choose to go to the moon because challenge is one that we're wilng to accept. one that we're unwilling to postpone. and one we're intending to win. it is my sincere hope that we will adopt this amendment, if

2:50:57 to 2:51:19( Edit History Discussion )

mr. president floor. mr. president, i suggest the absence of a quorum. will call the