ICYMI: Press Coverage of Sen. Cruz’s Visit with Vice President Mike Pence to Johnson Space Center

HOUSTON, Texas - Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined Vice President Mike Pence, Representatives Brian Babin (R-Texas) and Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Governor Greg Abbott for the astronaut candidate class of 2017 announcement at the Johnson Space Center.

Selected news coverage is below:

Houston Chronicle: VP Mike Pence visits Johnson Space Center, affirms commitment to space mission
"Pence was accompanied by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Reps. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, chairman of the House Science Committee, and Brian Babin, R-Woodville. Wearing a blue astronaut jacket presented to him by NASA, Pence stood among banks of control panels at Mission Control as a giant screen beamed an image taken from the International Space Station as it orbited over India. In a statement issued during the event, Cruz said the Trump administration and Congress had committed to the ‘manned exploration of space, laying the groundwork for the mission to Mars, and enabling commercial space ventures to flourish...Advancing America's leadership in space is a critical endeavor, and I am excited and optimistic about the work that remains to be done as we work to open up the last frontier.'"

KXAN: Sen. Cruz and Gov. Abbott Join Vice President Pence at Johnson Space Center
"NASA has chosen 12 new astronauts from its biggest pool of applicants ever. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz joined Vice President Mike Pence at toady's class of 2017 announcement at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The 12 join 44 astronauts already in NASA core. U.S. astronauts have not launched from home soil since 2011, but that could change next year."

KTRK: Sen. Cruz and Gov. Abbott meet Class of 2017 Astronauts
"Governor Gregg Abbott posing with astronaut's class right there. Another picture shows Senator Ted Cruz with the astronauts. The Senator actually flew in to Houston with the Vice President this morning."

KPRC: Sen. Cruz visits Johnson Space Center with Vice President Mike Pence
"U.S. Senator Ted Cruz joined Vice President Mike Pence, who visited and toured the space center on his 58th birthday. [...] Pence promised the support of the U.S. government in continuing to fund NASA. He said the president wants to focus on deep space exploration and work more with private industry."

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