R.U 1NG FOR THE MOON 



91 



Astronautics Committee brought its authorization bill to the floor. 

 The timing was perfect. Six weeks after the shocker delivered by 

 Gagarin's orbital flight, and less than three weeks after America 

 swelled with pride at Shepard's achievement, the committee presented 

 to Congress a bill with a price tag of $1.37 billion — some $142 million 

 beyond what had been budgeted in the March revision made by the 

 Kennedy administration. Chairman Brooks was not breaking anything 

 "top secret" when he told the House that "Tomorrow there will be 

 recommendations by the President * * * for a considerably larger sum." 

 Majority Leader John McCormack, in supporting the huge bill, also 

 mentioned the President's impending appearance on behalf of increased 

 funding and added: 



That clearly shows the judgment of the chairman and the members of the com- 

 mittee is sound and that they were looking to the future * * *. Read the reports of 

 this committee. They are ahead of the Executive * * *. This committee stands not 

 for catching up — but for surpassing. 



Former Speaker Martin in supporting the 40-percent increase in 

 funding over what had been voted in I960, also underlined the bipar- 

 tisan character of the Science Committee's operations: 



I have been here for 37 years, and I have never seen more dedicated service than 

 the members have devoted to this subject. Let me say, too, that the subject is one 

 that is very difficult and very technical. It requires great study. That it has had. 

 Above all, what impressed me was the fact that there was no partisanship displayed 

 in this committee in any instance. We all had, on both sides, but one purpose, and that 

 was to do what was best for America and for the development of science. 



When President Kennedy appeared to announce his recommenda- 

 tion that a manned lunar landing within the decade be set as a national 

 goal, he told the Congress that "no single space project in this period 

 will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long- 

 range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive 

 to accomplish." 



In asking the Congress for over half a billion dollars in additional 

 funds for NASA and the Department of Defense, President Kennedy 

 also helped to pinpoint the responsibility, not only of the Nation, but 

 the immediate tasks facing the committees in the Congress: 



Now this is a choice which this country must make, and I am confident that 

 under the leadership of the Space Committees of the Congress, and the Appropriations 

 Committee, that you will consider the matter carefully. 



The House Committee on Science and Astronautics went to work 

 again after President Kennedy's address. In subsequent discussions, 

 both the committee and the House considered and in effect ratified 

 the new goal of a manned lunar flight within the decade. Although 

 both the committee and the House had force-fed \ \ s \ with $142 



