Sen. Cruz: The Future of American Leadership and Exploration in Space is Secure

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today joined President Donald Trump and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) at a White House ceremony where the president signed the bipartisan Cruz-Nelson NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 into law. 

Video of the bill signing ceremony may be viewed here.

“I am grateful for the President’s action today which will restore stability and certainty to NASA and the future of the U.S. space program,” Sen. Cruz said. “Space exploration has fostered extraordinary economic growth and job creation for the State of Texas and the entire nation. Drafted and passed in a bipartisan manner, this legislation enables commercial space ventures to flourish and ensures NASA has the clarity of purpose and confidence it needs to continue to grow and improve upon what it does best: lead the world in space exploration. By charting an ambitious course for the manned exploration of the moon, Mars and beyond, this legislation champions America’s leadership in space, and ensures the Johnson Space Center remains the crown jewel of NASA’s human spaceflight missions. I am grateful for my colleagues’ dedication to the future of our nation’s leadership in space, and commend the President for signing this legislation into law.” 

“For almost six decades NASA’s work has inspired millions and millions of Americans to imagine distant worlds and a better future right here on Earth,” President Trump said. “I am delighted to sign this bill – it’s been a long time since a bill like this has been signed - reaffirming our national commitment to the core mission of NASA: human space exploration, space science and technology. With this legislation we support NASA’s scientists, engineers, astronauts and their pursuit of discovery.”  

“It took a lot of work to get this through Congress,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee. “I’m pleased we were able to get a bipartisan bill to the president that supports sending humans to Mars, expands the commercial space industry and calls for a robust NASA. Now we must roll up our sleeves to find the funding needed to carry out these lofty goals.”

As chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness, Sen. Cruz previously worked with his colleagues to secure the passage of the 2015 Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, legislation which received bipartisan support and praise from various space industry leaders. This legislation extends the International Space Station until 2024 and ensures stability for the future development and growth of the U.S. commercial space sector in Texas and the entire nation.

Full text of the bill can be viewed here.

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