U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is urging the Biden administration to account for how hundreds of billions of COVID-19 relief dollars were spent.

Sen. Rubio: Nelson, Great Choice To Lead NASA

On Friday, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) praised the nomination of former Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). 

“I cannot think of anyone better to lead NASA than Bill Nelson,” Rubio said. “There has been no greater champion, not just for Florida’s space industry, but for the space program as a whole than Bill. His nomination gives me confidence that the Biden Administration finally understands the importance of the Artemis program, and the necessity of winning the 21st-century space race. I look forward to supporting Bill’s swift confirmation, and working with him in the years to come.”

In February, the Biden Administration refused to confirm the President’s support for the Artemis program. After pressure from Rubio, the Administration clarified that it “certainly” supported the program. 

“From my position on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, I will work with the Biden administration to deliver the resources necessary to ensure America’s return to the moon happens on schedule,” Rubio wrote in February. “President Biden should commit to continuing to prioritize deep space efforts like the Perseverance rover, as well as exploration missions like Artemis and, further down the line, manned flights to Mars. These are complementary with science missions such as those ongoing aboard the International Space Station, and his administration should not prioritize one at the expense of the other.”

The first Artemis mission is scheduled later this year to launch an unmanned capsule 40,000 miles beyond the moon to demonstrate the program’s performance capacity. After that, Artemis II will send four American astronauts around the far side of the moon, by far the farthest man has ever traveled from Earth. Finally, Artemis III will land the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface in 2024, marking the first time a human being will have stepped foot on the moon since Apollo 17 over 50 years ago.
 
Artemis will require channeling the best of American ingenuity through serious government investment in coordination with private companies. But the benefits of such coordination extend far beyond any single mission. Our space program is a source of dignified work for Americans across the country, providing stable, well-paying jobs.

Rubio said, “I see the benefits firsthand. In Florida alone, NASA contracts in 2019 totaled $1.4 billion, creating over 33,000 jobs and generating more than $200 million in tax revenues for our state and local governments. NASA jobs are also extraordinarily productive, with high employment and output multipliers — for everyone located in Florida, an additional 15.4 are supported.”

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