Voice of America 4/23/97
CONGRESS / SPACE STATION
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CONGRESS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THEY CALL IT A "TEMPLE TO TECHNOLOGY"
...AND A "GIANT ERECTOR SET" (CHILD'S BUILDING TOY).
OPPONENTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
SAY THEY WILL ONCE AGAIN TRY TO CONVINCE THE
U-S CONGRESS TO TERMINATE THE PROJECT. AND AS
V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THE OPPONENTS
HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN IF THEIR EFFORTS FAIL.
TEXT: IT'S BECOME AN ANNUAL BATTLE ON CAPITOL
HILL -- THE BATTLE OVER THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
IN 1993, OPPONENTS ALMOST MANAGED TO KILL
THE PROGRAM. 215 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES VOTED TO CONTINUE THE
PROJECT...214 VOTED FOR TERMINATION.
THE MARGIN OF VICTORY FOR SUPPORTERS OF
THE SPACE STATION HAS BROADENED SINCE
THEN. BUT THIS YEAR, THERE IS A NEW ELEMENT
TO THE DEBATE: CONCERNS THAT RUSSIA WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS TO
THE JOINT PROJECT.
THE U-S SPACE AGENCY RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED
THE RUSSIANS ARE WAY BEHIND SCHEDULE ON
CONSTRUCTION OF A KEY COMPONENT -- THE
SERVICE MODULE WHERE CREWS WILL LIVE AND
WORK IN ORBIT. TO INDIANA DEMOCRAT TIM
ROEMER THAT IS JUST ONE MORE FLAW IN A PROJECT
THAT HAS BEEN A WASTE OF MONEY FROM THE
VERY START.
///ROEMER ACT///
I THINK THIS IS BAD SCIENCE. IT IS BAD FISCAL POLICY.
AND IT IS FOREIGN POLICY RUNNING OUR DOMESTIC
CONSIDERATIONS.
////END ACT////
MR. ROEMER AND ABOUT THIRTY OF HIS
CONGRESSIONAL COLLEAGUES -- DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS -- WILL TRY TO FORCE A
VOTE AS SOON AS THURSDAY ON THE SPACE
STATION. THEY SAY IF THEY FAIL TO KILL
THE PROGRAM, THEY WILL ASK CONGRESS
TO AT LEAST DROP THE RUSSIANS FROM THE
PROJECT.
////ROEMER ACT///
(OPT) I THINK THE RUSSIAN PARTICIPATION
CAN BE SUMMED UP AS "THROW ME THE MONEY!"
WE ARE THROWING MORE AND MORE
PRECIOUS U-S TAX DOLLARS AT THE RUSSIANS.
IT IS NOT HELPING THEM IN TERMS OF THEIR
TIMELINESS OR IN TERMS OF THEIR PARTICIPATION.
(END OPT) THEY ACTUALLY HAVE CAUSED THE
ENTIRE SPACE STATION TO FALL ELEVEN MONTHS
BEHIND SCHEDULE WHICH WILL THEN FURTHER
COMPLICATE THE BUILDING OF THIS
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND INCREASE
THE COSTS.
////END ACT////
IT IS A COST SOME IN CONGRESS SAY THE U-S CAN
NO LONGER AFFORD. REPUBLICAN GREG GANSKE
OF IOWA SAYS THE MONEY SHOULD BE USED FOR
UNMANNED SPACE EXPLORATION, AND BASIC
RESEARCH ON THE GROUND.
///GANSKE ACT///
WE CAME TO WASHINGTON TO MAKE TOUGH
CHOICES. I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL AGREE
AND MAKE THE TOUGH CHOICES NECESSARY
ON THE SCIENCE (THE SCIENTIFIC MERITS OF THE
PROJECT) AND THE BEST WAY TO SPEND TAXPAYER
DOLLARS ON SPACE EXPLORATION.
////END ACT///
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING OPPONENTS OF
THE SPACE STATION IS THE FACT THAT VIRTUALLY
EVERY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS TOUCHED BY
THE PROJECT. CONTRACTS FOR PARTS, RESEARCH,
AND RELATED TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT HAVE
BEEN SIGNED WITH COMPANIES AND UNIVERSITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ALMOST EVERY MEMBER
OF THE LEGISLATURE KNOWS THAT THERE ARE
JOBS OR GRANTS ON THE LINE...AND FEW ARE
WILLING TO VOTE AGAINST THE FINANCIAL
INTERESTS OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/KL
23-Apr-97 2:54 PM EDT (1854 UTC)
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