By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-939500.mp3
Dallas, TX – Representative Ralph Hall of Rockwell says preserving government funding for NASA will be one of his goals as chairman of the U.S. House's Science and Technology Committee.
House Republicans named Hall to the post on Wednesday.
Earlier this year President Obama called for using private companies to carry astronauts to the International Space Station.
Hall says the program is not yet ready for that type of privatization.
Hall: If you're really a conservative you long for a day when anybody and individuals can launch their own missiles and not have the government do it. But that day's not yet, It's a time when you need government backing and sure tax money to see you have successful launching and safe launchings.
NASA is especially important to Texas because of the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Hall has also said he intends to hold hearings to collect the best information possible on climate change. He wants to hear from believers and skeptics alike.