Chamber Pledges Support for Space Program

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Chamber of Commerce Space Enterprise Council today called on Congress to support President Bush's space exploration program and pledged to work with U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, on his priorities.

"Our country has been on the cutting edge of advancements in space which have led to significant benefits to the private sector," said David Logsdon, executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Space Enterprise Council. "For example, the state-of-the-art technology for breast cancer biopsies was developed out of the Hubble space telescope program."

The Chamber is advancing several space-related issues this year including President Bush's vision for space exploration. The Chamber has also called on Congress to fully fund the administration's budget request for NASA to ensure that key components of that vision are developed on schedule.

Before a wide-ranging business audience from the tech, agriculture and defense sectors, Rep. Calvert outlined his priorities for the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee to secure a rational and stable budget to accomplish the goals laid out by the president, send a NASA authorization bill to the president, and implement a Human Capital Strategy that retains the best people and encourages the next generation to pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology.

"Calvert has made space a priority for the nation's hi-tech workforce," said Logsdon. "It is critical to our businesses and our economy to continue strengthening the country's technology sector through space exploration."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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