▶ 0:24:01>> good morning. I believe when a quorum assembles we will go forward with the votes. We will start with opening statements. Today we are considering to consequence all reauthorization bills, the nasa authorization act of 20 26 and the weather research reauthorization act of 2026.
▶ 0:24:26United states finds itself in an intensifying space race with the people's republic of china. Later this spring nasa will launch astronauts to circumnavigate the moon. This mission, the next step in the agency's moon to mars program will be the first crude luger flyby -- luger flyby in 50 years.
▶ 0:24:56Secure the ultimate strategic high ground and shape the rules of the 21st century space economy. Nasa faces a series of challenges. Rising program costs, supply chain vulnerabilities, transition risks especially as we move beyond the lifetime of the international space station.
▶ 0:25:19Those challenge culminated in an announcement last friday that nassau was making major changes to the artemis missions and our eventual return to the lunar surface. Today congress will help guide those changes. Our bill authorizes critical funding and give strategic direction to the agency in line with a priority of administrator isaac men and the trump administration.
▶ 0:25:49It builds a 10 billion dollar investment this committee gave to nasa in the working family tax credit. The bill has dozens of priority backed by members on both sides of the aisle. From supporting research to nuclear propulsion. The bill directs nasa to create a permanent mood base -- moon base. So we could get there before china does.
▶ 0:26:20It keeps american astronauts in space expending the iss through 2032 and requiring the launch of two independent commercial space stations before the iss could be retired. It protects against disclosure of nasa tech secrets. It restores fiscal discipline while modernizing the workforce through public-partnerships -- public-private partnerships.
▶ 0:26:48Space is not just symbolic, it is strategic. The nasa authorization act ensures america, not china will lead the next era of exploration. Now we are worried about the weather research, that is a lot of words. I wasn't done with those words. The weather act, someone pulled out there at the -- their thesaurus. We are doing all of that.
▶ 0:27:20I like the weather act better. It updates the national oceanic and atmospheric research. Ensuring the agency remains focused on its core public safety mission. It is aimed at improving the accuracy and action ability of forecasts. As well as modernizing weather systems.
▶ 0:27:46It addresses hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, landslides, droughts, atmospheric rivers. It will go a long way towards modernizing radars and satellites, leveraging commercial data and integrating artificial intelligence capabilities in the program. It will reform the weather radio program.
▶ 0:28:11A critical safety system I work to improve following the tragic floods we saw in texas last july. All told, the weather act packages multiple bipartisan pieces of legislation. Many of which previously passed out of this committee and five of which passed last session. I want to end by thanking the majority and minority staffs.
▶ 0:28:36The clerks who spent countless days, evenings, weekends moving these major pieces of legislation. Both the majority and minority were here this past weekend getting this ready. Thank you for your dedication getting these bills across the finish line. A special word of thanks to dave tremor who will soon be enjoying a well earned retirement. With that I recognize ranking member cantwell.
▶ 0:29:04Sen. Cantwell: Thank you for today's markup on two very important pieces of legislation. I would like to thank the hard-working minority and majority staff for working on these bipartisan priorities for literally years.
▶ 0:29:23Sen. Cantwell: First we will consider the authorization act and I want to say both of these pieces of legislation represent a critical green light that use science to move the united states forward on technology and innovation so they could lead ins base and weather.
▶ 0:29:44Sen. Cantwell: The nasa at from myself and you senator cruz also helped by senators duckworth, lorraine, peters, schmidt, we introduce this as a one year transition bill to provide direction to nasa to maintain america's leadership.
▶ 0:30:04Sen. Cantwell: We first introduce this we have worked exclusively with other members of the committee to make important improvements and reaffirm our support for its work force at this critical point. The state of washington, I know the state of texas as well plays a leading role in the aerospace economy.
▶ 0:30:23Sen. Cantwell: Aerospace is a $71 billion economy in my state and supports 250,000 jobs forming a robust supply chain including over 40 artemis suppliers. Four witnesses told this committee that returning astronauts to the moon and establishing a presence is a vital national interest. We learned nasa's plan with its dependence on a single human lander was not going to get us there before china.
▶ 0:30:56Sen. Cantwell: This supports a path forward for a safe return to the moon that will get us there as soon as possible. For the first time our bill establishes a program to develop a permanent base and reinforces existing efforts related to lunar surface power and lunar expiration vehicles.
▶ 0:31:14Sen. Cantwell: We also extended the operation of the international space station for an additional two years and we will allow that operation -- nasa will follow and end operations on the iss to utilize one or more commercial space stations. We require nasa to evaluate existing crude capabilities. This legislation also maintains research into the U.S.
▶ 0:31:43Sen. Cantwell: Competitiveness including the development of safe and energy efficient hydrogen powered electric propulsion aircraft. We support the flight demonstrator program developing the efficient design for future commercial aircraft. It also supports the high cam program. It is the composite manufacturing project and a strong partnership with the aerospace material.
▶ 0:32:14Sen. Cantwell: Finally our bill authorizes funding levels for nasa seeing what the president's request was. This is important for us to continue to show how enthusiastic congress supports this. We refused to accept cuts. You play a leading role in getting nasa funding with other vehicles and we want to continue to keep our focus on this. Many members contributed to this final project.
▶ 0:32:40Sen. Cantwell: They will implement and active degree project consistent with ordinance act from senators hickenlooper, wicker, and myself. It incorporates the ascend act from senators hickenlooper and cornyn. Nasa should take on challenges that are nearly impossible. Nasa needs robust funding to support an ambitious agenda. I think the bills that we are putting forth today will allow us to accomplish that.
▶ 0:33:11Sen. Cantwell: Next the weather act, there's a lot packed into the weather act but it has a short title. We should not underestimate how important this is to our nation's continued success in letting our citizens know how important science is to determining resources and how we help our citizens. The 2026 act from you, myself, senator blunt rochester, so their shots, senator klobuchar is a great product similar to the nasa bill.
▶ 0:33:42Sen. Cantwell: It was introduced in 2024 and we continue to work on modernizing our nation and increasing preparedness in the event of extreme weather. We know firsthand how extreme weather has become costly and dangerous. They dumped nearly 5 trillion gallons of rain causing massive devastating funds.
▶ 0:34:12Sen. Cantwell: Over 70 landslides were reported marking major transportation routes, threatening lives and livelihood. The devastating floods in asheville, the fires in the palisades and too many others have shown us that providing americans with more timely and accurate weather information could avoid millions of dollars in property losses. In 2025 alone weather disasters cost the united states $150 billion. That is why this bill matters.
▶ 0:34:44Sen. Cantwell: The forecast improvement program , radio infrastructure is the chairman mentioned. As farmers plan for drought and bring tools to better forecast wildfires. This legislation advances many of the recommendations in a five-point plan I outlined last year to the president that this plan, we need to continue to make more progress on but the weather act will ensure the weather and surprises nimble,
▶ 0:35:15Sen. Cantwell: Innovative and equipped to meet the evolving changes of the 21st century. Almost every member of the committee has contributed to this legislation. Senator baldwin, what is that legislation? We will find out. I also want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
▶ 0:35:43Sen. Cantwell: I do want to bring up, I know we were going to do a coast guard nominee. I want to enter into the record a letter we received from a whistleblower about how this commander millar retaliated against this individual. We in the advent of what we have seen need to take these issues very seriously. I would ask that be entered into the record.
▶ 0:36:11Chair Cruz: Without objection. I will note on the coast guard nomination that the facts concerning jesse mo concerning jesse millar are highly contested and I believe our colleagues are being very unfair and maligning at honorable coast guard guardsmen.
▶ 0:36:46Chair Cruz: We will be taking up his promotion in a subsequent markup. We could discuss the merits of it then. The facts are markedly different from what was just suggested.
▶ 0:37:04Sen. Cantwell: They had an independent investigation, we should have this. I appreciate this not being on the agenda today. >> I want to also express my concerns about the promotion.
▶ 0:37:31Sen. Cantwell: I wanted to answer the question of what hab stands for, harger -- carver algal bloom.
▶ 0:37:42Chair Cruz: I will recognize ranking member cantwell for emotion.
▶ 0:37:47Sen. Cantwell: I move that the nasa transition authorization act of 2025 as amended and modified by budd2, hickenlooper one, hickenlooper three, hickenlooper four, hickenlooper five, lujan one, lujan -- moraine 01, moraine 02,
▶ 0:38:19Sen. Cantwell: Peters-moran one, schmidt one, schmidt two, schmidt three as modified. Schmidt five, she one, wicker one be favorably reported.
▶ 0:38:32Chair Cruz: Is there a second? >> second.
▶ 0:38:37Chair Cruz: Any discussion? All of those in favor? >> we do have one discussion point.
▶ 0:38:49Sen. Sheehy: I would like to call up this that would tie nasa's hands and require they provide specific statutory every time it has to read outdoor report. Nasa using electronic technology to report all briefings and requests which tells us would inhibit in person briefings. They were done in positions that nasa says they do not need and have not asked -- asked for.
▶ 0:39:20Sen. Sheehy: Many of these requirements are micromanaging the time nasa needs to have a singular focus on beating china back to the moon. We are here to enable to we are here to enable t nasa's leadership. We want to return to american spaceflight dominance. I will work to rectify the problems in these sections as it continues. I would drop by amendment. I look forward to staff cooperation to help us all with these issues.
▶ 0:39:46Chair Cruz: Thank you, appreciate that. If there is no further discussion, the question is on senator cantwell's motion. The motion is agreed to. The bill is ordered to be reported favorably. I know recognize ranking member cantwell.
▶ 0:40:08Sen. Cantwell: I've moved that the weather research forecast innovation reauthorization act as amended by rosen one, as modified, sullivan-cantwell one, wicker one be favorably reported.
▶ 0:40:23Chair Cruz: Is there a second? Any discussion? >> yes. I just wanted to thank both of you for including by amendment with senator lummis to codify the aerial snow survey program. I think you all know minnesota has a lot of snow. As does wyoming. Much of the state drains into large, slow-moving river systems including the mississippi and the red river.
▶ 0:40:53Chair Cruz: It is important we keep tracking that because it affects floods. We appreciate your inclusion of this amendment.
▶ 0:41:00Chair Cruz: I remember senator klobuchar's presidential launch speeds -- speech in the midst of a blizzard. It was impressive. All of those in favor? All of those opposed? The motion is agreed to and the bill is ordered to be reported favorably. Staff are authorized to make technical changes without objections.
▶ 0:41:28Chair Cruz: >> thank you for mentioning his work on this bill. He is retiring after a long career in state and year focusing on space issues. We appreciate getting this bill over the goal line.
▶ 0:41:43Chair Cruz: Are there members wishing to make remarks? >> I just want to note that the house is moving forward. I know we have waited for them to take action. They are doing their version of the bill today. Since there are so many cosponsors, we have 75 in the senate now.
▶ 0:42:08Chair Cruz: I would hope that we would move forward so that we could move quickly into a conference with the house to get this finished.
▶ 0:42:18Chair Cruz: The house did not concur. I'm hopeful we could get both chambers to move. >> thank you for your leadership.
▶ 0:42:29Chair Cruz: That concludes our executive session for today if there are no further comments. Committee is adjourned.