I want to show you a portion of that hearing, next up on cspan, chaired by senator richard shelby, of alabama. The hearing will come to order. I am pleased to welcome acting administrator robert lightfoot, to the commerce, justice, and hearing, toommittee consider nasas 2018 fiscal year budget request. Mr. Lightfoot and i worked well together during his tenure as director of the Marshall Space Flight center in huntsville, alabama. Mr. Lightfoot, thank you for serving as nasas leader during this time of change, and i appreciate you joining us here today. The administration has proposed a fiscal year 2018 budget of 19. 1 billion, for nasa. Its a reduction of 2. 9 from the current year number. And while this overall cut is less than any other agency is going to experience in the budget request, it still reflects a significant reduction of 561 million. This budget request attempts to navigate a challenging environment, but would disrupt Ongoing Missions and delay future exploration for years to come. There are proposals to cut funding, using the rationale that nasa could do without these programs under a reduced budget. Other Research Programs are left left within of sufficient financial resources, which will make it impossible for nasa to meet its plans. The Current Administration picks up where the Previous Administration left off, by projecting a lofty administration for space, while projecting a budget that prevents it from leaving the earth. The oriana and capsule is designed to break our human that program free of our eventually sending astronauts to mars. In addition, nasa will provide a planetary, deliver robotic science, and spacebased astronomy missions. Will makeehicle that possible, many of nasas goals to push the boundaries of exploration. I look forward to the initial launch of sls, and we will work to see if a crew launch will follow soon thereafter. If other pieces necessary for exploration are not ready, we will lose time and waste funds in the near term. It could be used for other important activities, down the road. Nasa must ensure that the rigor with which it reviews its own missions, as applied to all of its activities, and avoid pressure to send astronauts to space at any cost. There is growing sentiment that nasa should change the way it does business. Were it not for billions of dollars in developments funds with nasa acting with venture capital, there would be no companies that will one day take bruce to space. That nasanvestments will use for commercial crew services, is behind schedule. Independent observers cite the inability of our partners to meet contractual safety standards. And while risk is inherent in anything nasa chooses to undertake, there is no replacement for proper analysis wheneasonable precaution, the resources of the nation are at stake. I am encouraged to see the investments in Information Technology and cyber security, in this proposed budget. Nasa is very popular with the public, and also has a significant amount of data for scientists to use in understanding the universe around us. The agency must create a secure cyber environment, match innovative ideas that often risks, andnificant require significant investment. This subcommittee has strived to provide balance and funding for the overall nasa portfolio, while also ensuring that ongoing activities are appropriately funded to accomplish nasas missions. The proposed budget represents a snapshot in time based on decisions made with the most relevant information available. As this subcommittee moves ahead to produce our annual spending bill, i look forward to working with you to achieve the appropriate thank you mr. Chairman and here. Hite foot for being this is my first nasa hearing so hear pecially pleased to your comments and testimony and i want you to know mr. Chairman a state like om alabama where you have nasa acilities and a history of space as part of your economy you may not think of new but hire as a space state we have our own claim to space space First American in llen shepherd is from derry, he, we are to and t improve orbit and deep Space Exploration. Is a leader in space weather and designing and instruments on asa satellites to study solar physics. Inspiring a love of science helping 12 and graduate students through scholarship and fellowships and and through Research Grants and Education Programs and energies nt corp. Every state is a space state. Unfortunately the f. Y. 18 budget request cuts many programs that agency connected the rest of america. Nasa Education Mission brick try including grant and ep score. The programs have had challenges but i dont think the way to is to eliminate the programs. We greed one of the important jobs is to help kids to learn to love science and technology and i looking to working with you and the chairman to ensure nasa can train e to inspire and the next generation of technical orkers where building rockets, building american industry in the private sector. Over all the budget request is 19point 1 billion. Below the f. Y. 2017 evel but those cuts were not applied equally. In addition to elimination of budget proposes deep cuts to next generation and arth science transportation systems, items priority because hey help nasa reach the agencies calling to explore, discover and teach and inspire. Shelbys discussed the need to fund orion and the space the zo s needed to orbit. Mans beyond earth ill take a minute and talk about Earth Science. Change comes to climate nasas job is to observe the earth and tell us what is to our planet. Nasa doesnt tell us what policies we need to take in surveys but from published by school of public olicy this spring that 73 percent of americans say they rust science agencies such as nasa for information about climate change. Nearly twice as many as trust family or political leaders. Responsibility for nasa. Request 2018 budget cuts earth observation by more missions. Ding five now closing our eyes to whats happening to our planet doesnt its not happening and people in my state have no doubt change climate is ecause we see it every day the is affecting our tourism that contributes more than 4 new hampshire. This is not the time to cut back observations i looking forward to work with my olleagues to ensure nasa continues progress on high priority Earth Science missions want search and finally i to end by noting that nasa contracting remains on the accountabilities office high risk list where it 1990. En listed since now we all recognize how Nasas Programs are and how important your quality ofis but the Nasas Program management needs to match the quality of its i think thats the oint of the ga o continuing to list nasa. Again, thank you for testifying mr. Y and thank you chairman for holding this hearing. Welcome again to the committee. All of your written testimony hearingmade part of the record you proceed. Thank you both for having me chairman and members of the subcommittee im pleased to have discuss the ty to f. Y. 18 budget request. E appreciate the subcommittee support. Especially to purpose for nasa 2017 appropriations act and emergency supplemental funding for kennedy and centers are concrete contributions to and we al continuity appreciate the hard work on nasas behalf. Enduring purpose can be summarized in three things. Discover, explore and develop. This corresponds to exploration new technology in air out innics in space. Inspired next critical and provide information and they support Global Engagement and leadership. L the f. Y. 18 is 19point 1 vigorous d supports program that leads the world in space and aeronautics. To earth, science and this remains a good budget moving forward. Aeronautics u. S. Global enabling key technologies. F. Y. 2018 well reward a Detailed Design and build and validation of a low oom flight demonstrator that will demonstrate quiet super sonic flight opening a new marc u. S. Industry. In science nasa is currently bourne missions hy would supply for weather forecasting and Water Management and Disaster Response and warning. Early this request supports two new mission that race will attract water by precisely gravitational s field and ice sheets and clouds canopy heights in september there will be a final through the dives 1500 mile wide gap between rings as part and of the grand finale. Loose objects known assange storieds on this journey to the astroid and in 2023 well earth. A sample back to we launch the mars insight ander in may of 2018 to study the interior structure of mars nd on track to launch the next in 2020. Telescope ebb continues and it will be a giant our origins. Stand we also will launch the recently solar probe on a mission to fly closer to the sun 18 missions to studying our nearest star. State includes deep power ptical and high solar and advance materials and n late 2017 the infusion mission spacecraft and deep space atomic clock instrument ill be delivered and the International Space station our road to deep the Space Exploration is delivering hat we need to keep our astronauts safe and healthy. Working with commercial crew recrew launch capability to american soil in 2018 and were continuing space launch the system rocket. The to rye on and exploration systems and technology and Research Needed to explore Excavation Program and in 2020 and the orion spacecraft on lunar orbit. Follow. Ission will well develop and deploy habitation capabilities leading Missions Beyond the earths moon system. 2020 ns launched in the will establish the capability to operate safely and productively deep space. With your continued support we looking forward to continuing space and nt into exploring habitable environments n our solar system and deepening understanding of our home planet and