Rep. McBride: “It's no coincidence that in the 1960s, an era marked by chaos and conflict, we dreamed of and reached the moon.”

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-Del.), a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, highlighted the unifying power of space exploration, reflecting on the Artemis II mission as a moment of national inspiration and civic renewal during a committee hearing on the President's FY27 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Budget Request.

"I, like so many people across the United States and around the world, stared at my screen in wonder, watching those four astronauts take off, fly by the moon, and ultimately splash down in the Pacific," said Rep. McBride.

Rep. McBride's opening remarks underscored her belief in the power of NASA's work-especially during times of chaos and conflict-to bring people together around a shared sense of purpose.

"...Moments like this are not only scientifically significant, they're civically healing. It's truly a national accomplishment and a global event. In my mind, it's an antidote to the division that seems to define our age-and moments like this seem to come just when we need them most. I think it's no coincidence that in the 1960s, an era marked by chaos and conflict, we dreamed of and reached the moon," continued Rep. McBride.

She harkened back to President John F. Kennedy's address 65 years ago, in which he urged Congress to fully fund NASA's mission to reach the moon as part of a broader effort to advance freedom and reject tyranny.

"...65 years ago this May, President Kennedy spoke words that ring just as true today when he declared, quote, 'If we are to win the battle that is now going on around the world between freedom and tyranny, the dramatic achievements in space which occurred in recent weeks should have made clear to us all the impact of this adventure on the minds of people everywhere, who are attempting to make a determination of which road they should take,'" Rep. McBride noted.

Rep. McBride contrasted that moment of leadership with the present day-highlighting the difference between a president who came before Congress to make the case for America's space ambitions and one who has failed to provide transparency to the American people.

"[President Kennedy] said those words to Congress as he asked this body to appropriate the necessary funds-not only to go to the moon, but to achieve all of NASA's goals," continued Rep. McBride. "He came to Congress, Congress appropriated, NASA executed, and Congress provided oversight. Unfortunately, that constitutional obligation is undermined when the administration fails to-or is significantly delayed in-providing the information we are legally entitled to in order to perform that oversight role."

After her remarks, Rep. McBride pressed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman for a commitment to share a detailed spending plan, as required by law, to ensure accountability for how public funds will be used. She also raised concerns about the cancellations of projects in the President's Budget Request that would have advanced scientific research and space exploration.

The video of Rep. McBride's remarks can be viewed here.

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