This is 45 minutes. To be able to serve as the chairman of the Space And Science subcommittee for the department of within the senate as a former geologist i did have two geological research papers peerreviewed and published but i think im the only scientist that has published the peerreviewed papers. I was next to the astronaut and certainly in many ways he is one of the most inquisitive and curious people in the senate. He laughed and said i am an engineer. I perform experiments in space. I do not design them so he and i agreed to disagree. Hes another scientist in the senate. We passed the act at the u. S. Innovation Competition Act is what it ended up being called that strengthens the foundation and creates a directorate to help advance u. S. Leadership in a number of areas including things like Quantum Computing and artificial intelligence and it creates a strategic plan our relationship between researchers and universities to expand how we create more Stem Workforce. Weve also confirmed the Executive Director of the white House Office of Science And Technology policy. First time becoming a Cabinet Level Position scientific advisor. I think that is hugely powerful. Very, very important. Its also strengthened the Nassau Leadership by designating Bill Nelson to run and also the Deputy Administrator to be the first woman to serve in this capacity in the history of the agency. As the chair of the committee im not just representing colorado although colorado had a very strong scientific community led by companies like ball corporation. I have to make sure i get that in. But we also need a whole of Government Approach to address the challenges we face in Space And Science. Its the department of defense, the department of commerce. And i think that by continuing the national space council, the biden administration has made it clear that leadership in the space continues to be a priority. And they already have a number of initiatives going forward. The program to land the first woman on the moon of the Mars Exploration was perseverance and ingenuity. Watching those videos and seeing not just the attention in the senate but across america really was inspiring and i think that is the endless frontier act Innovation Competition act is going to help foster that excitement in a lot of places. We will also have two missions to explore venous and the gateway for future deep space exploration. Let me finish and say the success also requires that Stem Workforce i mentioned earlier not just colorado but across the country. We see a lot of muscle that hasnt been used and i think engaging young people in space will take adversity across the country. Its what inspires so many people to go into space and i think that they have acquired those missions and contributions from the whole commercial space sector. We always brag on a Per Capita Basis colorado is either first or second in terms of the size of the Per Capita Space economy. And i think we learned very clearly how much success you can have in partnership when you work on that space economy. But that is one of the most collaborative democrats in any number of republicans but he will not allow but it is important. And we need to protect that. But for all the different reasons outside what the public sees like gps for Instance Or Outside of normal space perceptions the economy is to make sure we read in space and the public understands that and they are excited to have the private sector enterprises the billionaires reaching out while people frown on that i think it is exciting and thats something i want to take advantage of and utilize and will benefit nassau. So every chance that i get i will try to find ways to put pressure on all of the senators to get people excited in their home states about what is in store for nasa and this country and for space if we just put our shoulder to the wheel. I mentioned that earlier and he is such a great partner he just feeds me lines on a regular basis that people may not have seen. I had a Writing Teacher in college trying to be a writer i failed but he walked into class one day and said everything that has been said and even if it had everything must be said freshly and again. That is what we have to do was find fresh ways to get people excited about this. The excitement is there we just have to make sure it manifests itself. The excitement certainly is there. We have a question from the audience. Where do you see our Infrastructure Development ten years from now and what efforts are you making the shift as a military industrial Complex Shift to greater Space Activity . And with the two Hour Discussion as a former Bar Owner or Restaurant Owner to be concise and people were paying the bill by think there is so much more going on beyond what President Eisenhower referred to as the industrial complex. There is so much potential locked up and i in ten years we look out and see that space has transformed every aspect not just our education and who goes to college but that space is already not necessarily just space but i had a number of friends that are molecular biologist because of the race to the moon. I think it is within the innovation and Competition Act i feel like front endless frontier there are billions of dollars designated to go out and recruit people into stem and to make sure. And then you can see if they have that curiosity absolutely. That was part of the focus that this is not a Oneyear Commitment and part of that ten Year Commitment and then we have to make sure that we funded. And as anyone who was dull with nasa in the past its all important but its not enough. Senator i want to find out about the partnership between nasa and the Defense Department there is so much that they do that is complementary and to get your view on that relationship and then to speak to that Space Command. That was very important. But then that higher level relationship. Obviously colorado has a longstanding and close relationship with the department of defense and the integration of space and now Space Force and that defense. With that Cybersecurity Infrastructure that is in the Air Force Space in the Air Force Academy down in Colorado Springs as well. There is that long history of the Relationship And Integration between Space And Science and our national defense. We cannot overwork it. When i go back to colorado when i talk to people, it is a relatively space literate and i ask people do they have concerns that the satellite systems could be attacked . There could be a cyberattack or through a cyberbreach to make our satellite systems vulnerable. Its as if they never heard of this before but space now is not just gps but it is central to our economy to be tied to space and with that awareness that countries like china have the capability to wage and attack. Space command, my biggest concern as a us senator from colorado, i have a vested interest to support colorado but i absolutely believe whether Space Command ends up in Colorado Springs or wherever, that a decision be made for national security reasons and not political reasons. There is a great deal of evidence that excessive political force was used in that Decisionmaking Process and should be examined. Wherever Space Command is located its in Colorado Springs now for several years but we need to make sure it is in the best location for the good of the country for our security and the other ways that Space Command the economy and military security and the whole list. I am biased of course but i have many discussions i try to make sure they are not so parochial just to get more jobs thats how we got into the mess. And then to keep politics out of military decisions. And to a large extent with many other democracies in the world. To keep investments from government by government relatively from those political forces. Thank you so much. Next jeff quick. Good Afternoon Senator. And talk about the Competitiveness Bill that was passed in june with the endless frontiers act including the Landing System and then on the annual basis and so what progress you have seen about securing that with the regular Appropriations Process or the jobs and Infrastructure Package being proposed. The actual appropriations i have not gotten involved yet. So now were focused on getting the endless Frontier Pass now we try to get the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill passed. And for me that is a high priority we do something on a significant level that is bipartisan. I was a couple minutes late for this meeting because i was in a meeting with a group of republicans and democratic senators finding out how we get universal coverage that is fair and equitable. And then put this to bed in the couple weeks. And then to get into those appropriations. And that is yet an appropriated. And it is based on existing funds some of that funding is thereby president. And then to go through the regular appropriation process. So i can get through exactly where where they are and get that through you. Through this organization. Courtney has a question. Thank you senator. And those of us that with that governorship thank you for the Support And Encouragement you gave so a lot of us delighted when you took on the chairmanship. No Space Traffic Management that you support that decision so if so will your Committee Work to make sure they get adequate resources . And if not commerce than whatever agency to serve as lead agency . We have more satellites with higher probabilities of conjunctions and disaster to have a Space Traffic Mitigation they dont want to tear that down any longer. Thank you for your time. I appreciated that. I have to make sure that when i come back to the Space Roundtable that i do think the Commerce Committee is the right place so that to have some serious collaboration and then to lost that ability and that Muscle Tone and that cybersecurity and those that are directly affected by cybersecurity and all the information on those are happening in a timely manner. Thats more important than space. Things will evolve so rapidly that some traditional ways of making decisions in government are no longer sufficient. We dont have the time to go backandforth or how shout nuances when we need to make a decision. Some agencies like Commerce Fireplace for the final decision can be made. You cant really say Space Trafficking because that means you are smuggling one to another. But obviously that is changing as we speak but from so far into public commerce. The next question is from stephen brody. Thank you senator. I grew up in the philly area. And in that first environment and with the Space Career and the desire. And to be in the between so that they very much respect they have done with apollo to enjoy those kinds of things as opposed to be seen as try to catch up. Do you see any progress like me with your capabilities to help us toward combative . Your lips to god year. But not year. But accomplishing those illadvised decisions. And like many senators concerned about the directions the trend has taken the last few years or the last decade really. And with the aggression they have demonstrated especially in the south China Sea and in that part of the world are alarming. And i think what we need to do and why President Biden is on the right track, and more effort and militarily in space. And then to have a strong military and then to maintain our role . That with that said and that they have to be assimilated to make sure that leadership notes that authority but it is functional to support americas leadership. I think ultimately i think biden is unusually appropriate to lead this effort that trade agreements and culture agreements and basic human rights are things that we will continue to negotiate more intensely than before. And find ways that we can isolate them in some way economically and they are belligerent and military aggression and parts of asia. They are isolated economically to be more thoughtful and careful and open to discussion. My observation for as long as i have been paying attention , its hard to really understand what people are coming from if they dont have unguarded opportunities. Joe biden spent over 50 hours talking to president Xi Oneonone that doesnt include all the meetings. Those are the interpreters over 50 hours and i think that matters and i am hopeful that allows them. Im digressing but to get all the suburban municipalities but that was only 20 percent of the denver metropolitan area and 34 municipalities and those who historically hated denver and made a case for best i could and that i didnt need any credit. I was able to align the different selfinterest we have all 34 mayors to support a Tax Increase in 2005 to go 122 miles. People look at me like im crazy. You cant do that. Why they are wrong and why they are right you have to keep asking questions. And at a certain point to change what your point of view is pleased to say that the Governors Office and then we need to build some trust with constructive collaboration. We have time for one or two more questions. We have a question on climate change. So much of the administrations focus is on climate change and initiatives and climate science and Nasas Role and the investments made by the administration in the community and how we can advance the initiative that advanced the climate Change Focus from the white house . Sure. I remember one of my teachers in school said it is careful observation of the world around us and using those observations to make the world a better place. That has never been more relevant than when we talk about climate. Careful observations from noaa all of the capabilities around the world to make sure we find ways of that complexity into decisionmaking facts. It is crucial. And from the senate and the house. With the capacity to get accurate information but to expand that Transmission Capacity and with 5g and all kinds to go towards climate change and electric vehicles and charging stations and other mobility carriers so unrealistically perhaps with a price on carbon and so that they begrudgingly admit that climate change is real and growing faster than they thought and then to address it. And that might dividend like George Schultz proposed 15 years ago as a way to provide incentives for the innovation that we need so how do we get direct connect capture and all the forms of sequestration and you go down the list of those places that are not where they need to be what how we solve the innovation necessary to address climate change. Anyway im not giving up on it. There are so many people in the country now that by into why this is necessary. And there are more and more businesses like the Space Business Roundtable and there has to be trade consequences or a tear for a penalty and then using the same system of measuring and then to disrupt. We have a couple of questions. So unmute yourself please. Thanks for being here. With your local rocket company. [laughter] and we really appreciate being here and we are thrilled to have you and i really want to echo and we really loved working with you and your governor to come here in the senate that is so important and the work you do is so important so a lot of members and then to appreciate of the endless frontiers acted into that and. Anything else in your Committees Point of view to understand how big of a problem this is right now . That was a big step with the bill that is tied into the whole notion of vulnerability from another nationstate that is active in space. But certainly i am very hopeful to put in place the resources and who knows what the consequences could be. But this is always the case i dont think were having quite the sense of urgency that we need to. Im always trying to get Peoples Attention DeficitTechnology Policy is behind us and understands why this is so important. And Doctor Landau with that perhaps is the highest priority for people in congress and that point is raised loudly. Keep up the good work. One more quick. Last question. Good Afternoon Senator thank you for taking the time. And that was a strategic move for us. With Space Force you didnt want to think politically. But colorado is the center of the universe for commercial Space Innovation what can Government And Industry do together thank you for putting your company in the right place. And who made the final decision . So let me be very clear i do believe so we are closer to mars and venus in any other state in the country of how we observe. But kidding aside i think the decisions on the location of military assets as a senator from colorado we will pursue opportunities just as we have to make sure every part of colorado is involved in the Space Effort and then to provide those components whatever their role is to make sure that we are uniting the state in a commitment in a military effort but also in many ways if you go to grand Junction Or Durango you find businesses with the commercial Space Efforts. And then to provide incentives for them to expand. But i am constantly on the lookout like many senators. Between me and Michael Bennett to be more either lied how can we stimulate. And then to focus the attention im easy to get a hold up. Your staff has been outstanding working with us. I appreciate that. I appreciate the question. I apologize for having to race off. The story of my life. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak to us. Clearly with a number of questions we received a believe im speaking of behalf of the entire audience with a fascinating discussion. Thank you so much. Thank you coronavirus pandemic. This is two hours. Good afternoon, everybody. Brothers and sisters, welcome to the subcommittee