Orrin Hatch: I can be a bridge for High-Skilled Immigration Reform
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/30/orrin-hatch-i-can-be-a-bridge-for-h-1b-visa-reforms/
Last November’s election brought significant changes to Washington, DC. President Trump is not your typical politician. Some of his actions have generated controversy, particularly in the Bay Area. But one thing is beyond dispute: he is focused like a laser on creating and keeping jobs here in the United States.
The Bay Area—and Silicon Valley in particular—has been an engine of American job growth for decades. This has been due in large part to the incredible talent companies have been able to attract from across the country and across the world.
Unfortunately, employers today often face a shortage of qualified workers. Many positions require specific skills that involve years of advanced technical and scientific training. This problem is particularly acute in the tech sector, where employers need workers with intricate knowledge of computer science and engineering.
For years, we’ve had a process for bringing high-skilled workers from other countries to the United States to fill jobs for which there is a shortage of American labor. This system does not replace American jobs; rather, it supplements our workforce with talent from other countries in industries where there are simply not enough qualified American workers to meet market demand.
But the system is out-of-date. Our immigration laws cap the number of high-skilled worker visas—also called H-1B visas—that employers may obtain each year at a number that is far below demand.
Our laws also lack a straightforward path for companies to hire foreign students at American universities on a permanent basis after graduation. We educate some of the world’s best and brightest here in America and then send them back home because they can’t get permanent work in the U.S. This makes no sense.
At the same time, a handful of companies have found ways to game the H-1B system to displace American employees with lower-paid foreign workers. That was never the intent of our immigration laws, and it must not be allowed to continue.
For the past two Congresses, I’ve championed legislation to bring our outmoded high-skilled immigration system into the 21st Century. My bill, the Immigration Innovation Act or “I-Squared,” would make it easier for employers to find the high-skilled workers they need to grow their companies and create new jobs.
I’m working on updating I-Squared for the new Congress and plan to reintroduce it in the coming weeks.
Among other things, the updated bill will contain a streamlined green card process for high-skilled workers and strict penalties for companies that use H-1B workers to displace American employees. It will also create a better procedure for H-1B workers who wish to stay in the United States long-term to change jobs so that employers cannot lock them in at below-market wages.
I know that many in Silicon Valley and surrounding communities have expressed concerns about the new administration’s immigration policies. But I believe high-skilled immigration is an area where the tech community and the administration can work together. President Trump comes to office with a business background and recognizes the crucial need for qualified workers.
As a longtime proponent of the tech community and as the Chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force, I can serve as a bridge between the President and Silicon Valley. I have a good working relationship with the President and a deep understanding of the issues that matter to the tech industry.
With a new and improved I-Squared as our guide, I’m convinced we can enact meaningful high-skilled immigration reform so that employers can hire the employees they need to grow our economy and create even more high-paying jobs.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is the chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force and the former chairman and longest-serving member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He wrote this for The Mercury News.
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Hatch Charts Path Forward for Obamacare, Tax Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C.--In a speech on the Senate floor today, Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) discussed the robust legislative agenda for the Republican-led Congress – comprised of repealing and replacing Obamacare, working to achieve tax reform, and enacting a bold trade agenda – and outlined the role the Finance Committee will play in moving these legislative efforts forward.
On Obamacare:
“Obamacare is a disaster and, one way or another, it has to go away. The American people are demanding that we take action, and I expect the volume of those demands is only going to go up.”
On Tax Reform
“I think there is a remarkable amount of agreement, at least among Republicans, on the major issues we need to deal with to fix our broken tax code. Republicans in the Senate, the House, and the White House agree on about 80 percent of the major tax reform issues, and a number of key and fundamental questions are answered in that 80 percent.”
Hatch went on to note the importance of partnership between Congress and the administration called on his Democratic colleagues to put aside partisan politics and work with Republicans and the administration to find real solutions for the American people
“In any of these big-ticket policy efforts cooperation between the legislative and executive branches is key,” Hatch continued. “My Democratic colleagues know this, which is probably the reason they appeared to be bound and determined to prevent any meaningful cooperation from happening. I’m hoping that, as we put more distance between us and the 2016 election, more of our colleagues will be amenable to working together to address these kinds of important issues.”
The complete speech as prepared for delivery is below:
Mr. President, as we approach the end of another week here in the Senate, with a two-week recess on the horizon, I think it is a good time to reflect on where we are on various high-profile efforts and to talk about the pathways forward.
As is generally the case when any new administration comes into office, the Republican majorities in both the House and Senate began 2017 with an ambitious agenda in order to make good on the promises we’ve made to the American people over the last several years.
Many of the key items on that agenda fall squarely in the jurisdiction of the Senate Finance Committee, which I chair. That being the case, my colleagues on the committee and I have been hard at work trying to find the right solutions on things like healthcare, tax reform, and trade policy.
I don’t think I’m going to surprise anyone when I say it hasn’t been easy. Honestly, I think that might be the biggest understatement of the year.
Things have been difficult for a number of reasons.
One reason is that we’re coming off of a bitter election year, one that shocked a number of our colleagues. After a hotly contested campaign, it can sometimes take a while for things to return to normal.
However, I don’t think that excuses the tactics and rhetoric we’ve seen from our friends on the other side of the aisle.
In any of these big-ticket policy efforts – whether we’re talking about repealing and replacing Obamacare, fixing the tax code, or updating America’s trade policy – cooperation between the legislative and executive branches is key. My Democratic colleagues know this, which, I suppose, is probably the reason they appeared to be bound and determined to prevent any meaningful cooperation from happening.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect my friends to change their views and back policies they find disagreeable. However, you’d think that, at the very least, they’d allow the new President to get his team in place, a courtesy that has typically been extended to past presidents, regardless of party.
Yet, over the last few months, we’ve seen a systematic effort from our Democratic colleagues to smear, attack, and undermine the vast majority of executive branch nominees. And, in many cases, after the baseless attacks have failed to gain traction, they’ve used every procedural tool at their disposal – including surprise boycotts of committee markups – in order to slow the confirmation process down.
This level of obstruction with regard to nominees is unprecedented. And, I think it’s safe to say that it has slowed our efforts down somewhat, which, I suppose, is the exact reason our colleagues have taken this path.
Still, Mr. President, despite these childish tactics, the teams are coming together and we are moving forward in a number of key areas. Like I said, it still hasn’t been easy, but, to paraphrase a number of important figures, nothing worth doing is ever easy.
For example, on health care, I think it’s safe to say that the ongoing effort to repeal and replace Obamacare took a hit last week. But, I don’t think that has weakened anyone’s resolve – Obamacare is a disaster and, one way or another, it has to go away. The American people are demanding that we take action, and I expect that the volume of those demands is only going to go up.
I commend Speaker Ryan for his efforts thus far. And, I commend all my colleagues in the House and Senate for their commitment to repealing and replacing the so-called Affordable Care Act, and I remain hopeful that, in the near future, we can find a workable path forward.
On tax reform, we have some indications that the Trump Administration intends to be more actively engaged in finding and developing a path forward. I’ve said for years that if we’re going to be successful in tax reform – a goal shared by members in both parties – it’s going to take presidential leadership.
While President Obama was generally unwilling to meaningfully engage on tax reform, President Trump and his team appear to be anxious to drive the process, and I welcome that.
As with healthcare reform, there are some differences of opinion with regard to tax reform. Still, I think there is a remarkable amount of agreement, at least among Republicans, on the major issues we need to deal with to fix our broken tax code.
Overall, I’d say that Republicans in the Senate, the House, and the White House agree on about 80 percent of the major tax reform issues, and a number of key and fundamental questions are answered in that 80 percent.
For example, we all generally agree on the need for comprehensive reform.
We agree on the need to bring down tax rates for businesses and job creators.
We agree that we need a simplified rate structure on the individual side.
We agree on the need to fix the international tax rules to level the playing field for American companies and encourage more investment in the U.S.
And, we generally agree on key process issues, including the appropriate revenue baselines and the use of macroeconomic analysis in budget scoring.
Still, that 20 percent of issues where we don’t necessarily agree is not insignificant. We’ll need to find a consensus path forward on those issues as well.
One area where we’ve yet to reach a consensus – and the one getting the most attention – is on the proposed Border Adjustment Tax.
People have a number of opinions about this proposal, and they’ve been more than willing to express them publicly. As for myself, I’m anxious to see what it looks like once our friends in the House put it all together.
It’s too early for me to express a definitive position now. So, at this point, all I’ll say is that I have some basic questions about the proposal.
For example, who will ultimately bear the tax? To what extent will it be borne by consumers, workers, shareholders, and foreigners?
Another question: Is the proposal consistent with our international trade obligations?
Finally, since border adjustability would likely be a significant shift in business tax policy, would it require us to make adjustments to ensure we don’t unduly increase the tax burden on specific industries? If so, what adjustments would be necessary, and how would they be structured?
I look forward to receiving more details on this proposal. However, here in the Senate, we also have some work to do, and I’ve been actively working with the members of the Finance Committee to find various solutions to our nation’s tax problem.
At the end of the day, I don’t think it’ll surprise anyone to hear me say that I believe we’re going to need to have a robust and substantive tax reform process in the Senate. In my view, it’s not realistic to think that the Senate will simply take up and pass a House bill without our members having significant input on the substance of the bill.
That’s how the Congress is supposed to operate. And, I think that is what will produce the best result.
I look forward to continue working with my colleagues in the House on tax reform. I also appreciate the willingness of the new Treasury Secretary and the President’s National Economic Council to lead on this effort, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as well.
I will also say this: My hope is that both parties can find a way to work together on tax reform.
While we have procedural tools at our disposal to get tax reform legislation through Congress with strictly Republican votes, I, personally, believe that it would be better to find a bipartisan path forward.
A bipartisan bill would allow us to put in place more lasting reforms and give the overall effort additional credibility.
I’m sure there are some who think that it’s impossible for Republicans and Democrats to work together on something of this magnitude. But, I’ve been in the Senate a long time, and I think my record for bipartisanship speaks for itself.
I believe we can, and should, work together. And, I’m willing to talk and work with anyone who is willing to set politics aside and engage in good faith on these matters.
I’ve been banging a drum on tax reform for six years now, and, throughout that time, I’ve invited my Democratic colleagues to join in this effort. I’ll do so again today.
Hopefully some of our colleagues on the other side will take me up on this offer.
Finally, Mr. President, I want to say a few words about U.S. trade policy. Trade is another area where President Trump has some ambitious plans, and where, up to now, progress has been hindered.
Before I delve into that, let me reiterate a key point.
In 2015, Congress outlined its trade priorities with our legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority, which was signed into law by President Obama.
The TPA statute gives clear guidance as to what a trade agreement should look like if it is going to win Congress’s approval. President Trump was fortunate to come into office with TPA already in effect and I am committed to working with him to enact trade agreements that meet the standards established by the TPA law.
When it comes to new trade agreements or revisions to modernize existing trade agreements, that is my top priority as chairman of the Senate committee with jurisdiction over trade policy.
Our trade laws are designed to give Congress a voice in both the negotiation and implementation of trade agreements. In addition to priorities and objectives outlined under TPA, there is the office of U.S. Trade Representative, which is intended to be the chief intermediary between Congress and the administration on trade policy matters.
In other words, in order for the two branches to effectively work together on trade, the office of USTR needs to be fully functional and fully staffed. Unfortunately, up to now, some on the other side have been making unreasonable and wholly unrelated demands in relation to the confirmation of President Trump’s nominee to be USTR, even though he has support from members in both parties.
This is unfortunate. However, I am working with my colleagues to remove any remaining roadblocks, and I’m hoping we can make progress on this very soon.
As you can see, Mr. President, we have quite a bit to work on in Congress, and I’m only talking about a handful of the major issues before us. There are, of course, many other priorities we need to address and matters we need to resolve.
I’m hoping that, in the coming weeks and months, as we put more distance between us and the 2016 election, more of our colleagues will be amenable to working together to address these kinds of important issues, even if it means allowing President Trump to claim some successes.
With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.
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Hatch and Bennet Introduce Critical Career and Technical Education Bills
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) today introduced two key bills to improve and expand career and technical education opportunities for students, so they are better prepared to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy.
The first bill the Senators introduced—the Workforce Advance Act—will increase dual and concurrent enrollment and early college high school options as part of Perkins-supported career technical education (CTE) programs. Strong CTE programs provide vital access to the knowledge and skills needed for job and career success. The second bill—The Innovation for Tomorrow's Workforce Act—will increase innovation and evidence-based strategies to strength CTE programs and help build strong pathways from the classroom to the workplace.
"These bills create a fast, affordable route for students to gain the skills and earn the credentials they need to compete in today's global economy," Hatch said. "Concurrent enrollment programs are demonstrably effective in helping young men and women prepare for their future careers. Take, for example, my home state of Utah: In 2015 alone, our students earned a variety of career certifications and collectively completed more than 180,000 credit hours of college-level courses—all before graduating high school. With each class students took, they were one step closer to finding a job or earning a college degree. I urge my Senate colleagues to help us empower America's youth and strengthen our nation's workforce by supporting these critical pieces of legislation."
“High quality career and technical education programs are critical for students across Colorado to succeed in the 21st century,” Bennet said. “These bipartisan bills will help create effective pathways to successful careers and well-paying jobs for our kids. In Colorado, we’ve seen tens of thousands students take advantage of dual and concurrent enrollment opportunities, which is why we want to expand and strengthen these opportunities throughout the country. We’ve also seen how innovation plays an important role in some of our most successful programs. By creating an innovation fund, promoting apprenticeships, and supporting competency-based education, we can equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for the global economy.”
The Workforce Advance Act encourages states to examine how they can expand access to CTE dual and concurrent enrollment and early college high school courses. Dual and concurrent enrollment programs and early college courses allow students to earn college credit while still in high school. The bill would allow states to invest leadership dollars in expanding access and supporting teachers and districts to increase the number of courses offered. It would also encourage districts to strengthen CTE programs by incorporating college credit opportunities.
The bill would allow schools to use a portion of the funding they receive through the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act for tuition and fees for CTE college courses. And it would allow school districts to use funding to support educators pursuing the credentials they need to teach these courses in their high schools, helping more students earn college credit. Finally, the bill would allow the Department of Education to use national CTE activities to help identify successful methods and best practices for providing dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school career and technical education opportunities.
The Innovation for Tomorrow's Workforce Act would create a grant program to identify and support innovative activities to improve career and technical education (CTE) and to align workforce skills with labor market needs. Priority in awarding grants would be given to entities that predominantly serve students in low-income families, and entities receiving funds must provide for an independent evaluation of the activities carried out using the grant. The innovation fund may be used flexibly to strengthen ongoing state efforts in career and technical areas, including: improving teacher effectiveness, integrating STEM and computer science into CTE, increasing work-based learning opportunities, and supporting employment outcomes for students. This grant is similar to The Education Innovation and Research, which was included in the Every Student Succeeds Act thanks to Senator Hatch's and Senator Bennet's efforts. A similar version passed the House last Congress.
The bill also includes support for pay for success (PFS) strategies, open education resource (OER), and competency-based education as allowable uses of CTE funds to help support program improvement and innovation. To support efforts to further develop apprenticeship opportunities, the Senators added language in the state leadership and local use sections to provide or support work-based learning opportunities as a permissible use of funds.
Education leaders praised the Senators efforts on Innovation:
The State Education Technology Directors Association (SETDA)
SETDA applauds Senator Hatch and Senator Bennet for championing innovation in Career and Technical Education. CTE innovation depends on ensuring access to cutting edge instructional supports and SETDA appreciates the bill’s focus on encouraging effective technology use and developing and adopting open educational resources.
The Innovation for Tomorrow’s Workforce Act of 2016 strives for equity in Career and Technical Education by prioritizing grant awards to schools that serve students from low-income families. Increased numbers of students need access to high quality, high impact CTE programs to prepare for success after high school graduation.
The National Association of State Boards of Education
NASBE commends Senator Hatch and Senator Bennet for fighting to advance CTE education. Innovative, high quality career and technical education will prepare more students for later economic success. It also offers important academic benefits and increases college access and completion. NASBE strongly supports the bill’s focus on better aligning programs with workforce needs, integrating academic and CTE content, and supporting greater use of open educational resources. We hope Congress approves the measure this year, along with broader CTE reauthorization legislation.
Deneece G. Huftalin, President, Salt Lake Community College
We applaud Senator Hatch for his efforts through this legislation to promote and reward innovative initiatives that strengthen career and technical education in Utah. The innovation fund he is advocating will support the collaborative programs underway at Salt Lake Community College, such as the Utah Aerospace Pathways and the Utah Diesel Technician Pathways. The fund will encourage the creation of additional new programs that help prepare our workers for the quality technical jobs that are in high demand in Utah and across the country.
Julie Snowball, Director, Career and Technical Education, Weber State University
The Perkins CTE Innovation Fund will provide strategic opportunities for CTE educators to collaborate with students and employers in reaching beyond the boundaries of standard CTE programs in order to transform educational pathways. The projects supported by this fund will provide limitless win-win possibilities for CTE students as they prepare to enter the workforce.
Blair K. Carruth, Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs, Utah System of Higher Education
We welcome the additional investment in CTE programs through the proposed innovation grants. These grants would enable higher educational institutions and other entities to develop and implement new and creative approaches to instructional design and delivery methods. By so doing institutions would be able to reach an expanded market, resulting in greater efficiencies and increased positive impact on workforce talent in critical occupational areas.
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Hatch and Chaffetz Introduce Navajo Water Settlement Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Congressman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, have introduced legislation to create a negotiated settlement between the state of Utah and the Utah Navajo Nation (the Nation) over water rights claims on the Colorado River.
Last Congress, after thirteen years of deliberation, a federal negotiations team review, and the Navajo Nation Council's sign-off, the nation and the state came to an agreement that established a shared commitment to resolving reserved water rights claims through negotiated settlements rather than through costly litigation.
“I’m thrilled that over a decade of work with our Navajo friends and neighbors has culminated in this fair, equitable settlement that benefits all water users in the region,” Hatch said. “This result took a great deal of time and commitment, and I’m grateful so many willing partners stepped up to the plate to address this complex issue.”
“This is a big win for my constituents in the Navajo Nation,” said Chaffetz. “Water is the lifeblood of the West. With Navajo water rights finally quantified, they can now benefit economically from a resource that is rightfully theirs. The water infrastructure that will be built as a result of this agreement is long overdue. This pact provides tangible benefits that improve the quality of life for Utah Navajo.”
Statements of Support:
Gary Herbert, Governor of Utah
“For more than a decade the state of Utah and the Navajo Nation have worked together to reach consensus on these critical water right claims. This agreement did not happen overnight; it has taken time and commitment from partners on every side of the issue. This deliberative process has led to a fair and equitable agreement which will benefit Utah, the Navajo Nation, the federal government and all water users in the Colorado River Basin alike. I am hopeful Congress will follow the lead of Sen. Hatch and Rep. Chaffetz and move quickly to support our efforts.”
Sean D. Reyes, Utah Attorney General
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"The agreement reflects a just, equitable, and reasonable resolution of the Nation's water rights claims in Utah, claims which are of particular importance because the water necessary to resolve them must come from Utah's precious Colorado River allocation. Efforts to settle these claims have been underway for over a decade and all parties need to receive the benefits of this settlement as quickly as possible without further inflating settlement costs."
Russell Begaye, Navajo Nation President
“The Navajo Nation is extremely grateful to Senator Hatch and Representative Chaffetz for introducing the Navajo Nation/State of Utah Water Rights Settlement Act. The settlement represents a win-win for the Navajo Nation and the State of Utah. Consequently, we are looking forward to working with Senator Hatch, Representative Chaffetz, and the rest of the Utah congressional delegation in moving this historic legislation through Congress.”
Lorenzo Bates, Navajo Nation Speaker of the House
“The introduction of the Navajo Nation/State of Utah Water Rights Settlement Act is a great step forward in bringing safe, clean drinking water to Utah Navajo Communities. Consequently, we greatly appreciate the leadership of Senator Hatch and Representative Chaffetz in championing this vital legislation.”
Hatch Gives Democrats History Lesson on the So-Called “60-Vote Threshold”
Washington, D.C.—Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor today in response to Senate Democrats who have threatened to filibuster Judge Gorsuch, the President’s nominee for the Supreme Court.
In his speech, Hatch sought to set the record straight on the so-called “60-vote threshold” and decried Democrats’ attempts to mask what would be the first partisan filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee in the history of the United States.
Democrats are already claiming that the threshold for confirming Supreme Court nominees is 60 votes. Where’d they get that from? They may wish this were the rule, at least for Republican nominees, but they know that’s not true. They know it.
Democrats have been playing this game for years, embracing one standard when it suits them only to do an about-face later. It may be just a coincidence, but the flip-flopping follows an eerily similar pattern to election cycles when different parties control the White House. But, like I said, that may be just a coincidence.
What I do know is that Senator Schumer voted 25 times to filibuster judicial nominees of President George W. Bush. Then, when nomination filibusters had declined under President Obama, he voted to abolish them. Now, with a Republican again in the White House, he’s back on the filibuster train. He was against judicial filibusters before he was for them before he was against them.
The full speech as prepared for delivery:
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Hatch Urges Continued Support of Space Exploration in Letter to President Trump
Washington, D.C.—Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, led 23 of his colleagues in a letter to President Trump highlighting the importance of space exploration infrastructure, including the Space Launch System (SLS), the Orion Spacecraft, and the Exploration Ground System (EGS). The letter calls for a renewed focus on deep space assets and urges the President to continue supporting these critical systems. Hatch's letter also highlighted the large number of American jobs that support space exploration, which includes tens of thousands in the state of Utah.
“We believe SLS, Orion, and EGS are the cornerstone of our nation’s human space exploration enterprise and a source of national pride,” the Senators wrote. “We also recognize the critical contributions of the more than ten thousand Americans working at supplier companies in every state building key components for these new systems and request your continued support of SLS, Orion, and the EGS.”
“Thanks to the support of Congress, and leaders like Senator Hatch, Orbital ATK’s Utah workforce is doing a tremendous job manufacturing the powerful boosters for NASA’s Space Launch System and the critical launch abort motor for the Orion spacecraft,” said Charlie Precourt, former astronaut and current vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK’s Propulsion Systems Division. “These systems will enable humans to explore multiple destinations in deep space, inspiring the next generation and advancing our understanding of the solar system as well as our own planet.”
Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar, Executive Director of the Coaliton for Deep Space Exploration praised Hatch and the Senators for their support. "The Space Launch System exploration rocket, Orion deep space spacecraft and their associated ground systems are the core elements of NASA’s program to return American astronauts to deep space, expand the frontiers of science, and strengthen our nation’s leadership in human space exploration. The continued bipartisan support for NASA’s exploration program by Congress and the Administration through the recent enactment of the NASA Transition Authorization Act and the FY 2018 Budget Request demonstrate our nation’s commitment to this important endeavor.”
[Coalition members include: Aerojet Rocketdyne, Orbital ATK, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, among many others]
Other Senators joining Hatch on the letter include Senators Baldwin, Bennet, Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Cassidy, Corker, Gardner, Inhofe, Kaine, Kennedy, Menendez, Merkley, Murray, Nelson, Peters, Portman, Shaheen, Strange, Van Hollen, Wicker, and Wyden.
The full letter, as delivered to the White House, is below:
Dear President Trump,
For the first time in nearly 50 years of human space exploration, since man last walked on the moon in 1972, interplanetary destinations – including the moon, moons of Mars, and Mars itself – are within reach of American astronauts. American-led exploration of deep space is vital to inspiring our future innovators and growing our economy through technological innovation and development. Today, NASA and its industry partners are currently building the infrastructure that will extend human presence into deep space, including the Space Launch System (SLS), the Orion Spacecraft, as well as the Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) that will support these unique deep space assets.
SLS is the largest and most powerful rocket the world has ever seen and can provide our astronauts with a capability that is simply unmatched by any other system under development today. This increased lifting power and range will open doors to exploration of our solar system so America can continue to lead human advances in space. While SLS will provide the power to push American astronauts further than any human has ever traveled, the Orion spacecraft is how they will safely arrive at their deep space destinations.
Orion is the most technologically advanced spacecraft built and is the only spacecraft capable of taking humans to multiple destinations in deep space and returning them safely back to Earth. Orion is capable of supporting 1,000 day missions, giving NASA the moon, Mars, and everything in between. We are proud of the successful test flight of Orion on December 5, 2014, and are confident that SLS and Orion will continue on the path of success in EM-1, the first test flight of both systems. In order to maintain momentum toward preparedness for this flight test and eventually realize full mission capability, it is vital to provide SLS, Orion, and the EGS with the resources necessary to ensure infrastructure is in place for EM-1. It is impossible to push the limits of human exploration into deep space without the appropriate ground systems on Earth.
Across the country, hundreds of suppliers and small businesses have been simultaneously designing, building, and testing the programs that will secure our nation’s leadership in space for decades to come. We believe SLS, Orion, and EGS are the cornerstone of our nation’s human space exploration enterprise and a source of national pride. We also recognize the critical contributions of the more than ten thousand Americans working at supplier companies in every state building key components for these new systems and request your continued support of SLS, Orion, and the EGS.
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