WASHINGTON - More than two dozen members of Congress, including Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, have formed a new House of Representatives caucus dedicated to promoting the interests of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The new NASA Caucus will strengthen awareness of NASA's "many connections to our national security and economic interests and provide a bipartisan forum to discuss the scientific and technological challenges to American flight and space exploration endeavors," its organizers said.
Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat who represents NASA Glenn Research Center, co-chairs the group with California Republican Steve Knight, whose father was an astronaut.
"As the hardworking researchers and scientists at Glenn Research Center know, for pennies on the dollar, NASA programs have fueled jobs, created new industries and inspired entire generations of Americans," said a statement from Kaptur. "Today, we are excited to announce the launch of the bipartisan NASA Caucus to honor this scientific juggernaut's contributions to American life and to assure its continued contributions to a future further enlightened by scientific advancement."
A statement from Knight said NASA programs "have always been able to inspire a nation to go above and beyond what is currently known and take leaps to discovery in science. I hope this caucus can stimulate that spark of hope and imagination and get us to inquire more about what NASA can offer."
Other Ohioans in the group are Republicans Dave Joyce of Bainbridge Township and Bill Johnson of Marietta.