Chairman Babin Gives Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing on NASA’s Artemis Program

Today, Chairman Brian Babin delivered remarks at the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s subcommittee hearing on the progress of NASA’s Artemis program. In his statement, he noted that successfully carrying out a crewed space exploration program requires the government to maintain continuity of purpose over the next several years. This includes vital Congressional oversight to achieve our goals of reaching the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

“To ensure the viability of the Artemis program, and the efforts of our commercial and international partners, Congress cannot accept unnecessary cost overruns or schedule delays,” Chairman Babin said. “We will continue to evaluate the proposed architecture regularly and provide rigorous oversight to ensure the program remains on track.”

He also emphasized the pressing competition we are facing from global rivals, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

“With the CCP planning to send taikonauts to the Moon’s South Pole by the end of the decade, the stakes are too high for us to fail. We cannot afford to let them beat us. As I’ve stated many times before, one of my greatest concerns is that NASA astronauts will arrive at the Moon only to be greeted with a sign that says, ‘No Trespassing’ in Mandarin.”