Boehlert made clear that his priorities as Science Committee Chairman are in the areas of energy, education and environmental policy. His focus is on improving the nation's K-12 math and science education in the nation's public schools, fully supporting university-based scientific research, developing sound research and development policies to promote better energy efficiency, including alternative fuels for vehicles.
Hot button topics first
For many years, Boehlert said, the Committee has spent considerable time dealing with the space program, perhaps too much time, he said.
"This Committee has made it clear right from the beginning this year that we're going to be involved in a lot of other things," Boehlert said. Energy policy, environmental policy, educational policy are top, hot button topics, with the Committee committed to also handling space program issues, he said.
"We're going to come to grips with the financial problems of the International Space Station," Boehlert said.
The still-under-construction NASA mega-project is facing a cost overrun to the tune of $4-5 billion, minimum.
ISS bail out
As for NASA getting a financial bail out from lawmakers to solve all the ISS woes, the agency is not going to find open arms on Capitol Hill. "I expect Congress to hold NASA's feet to the fire," Boehlert said.
Boehlert said that NASA has to provide Congress a plan on how best to proceed with the ISS, "a plan that's real and that makes sense."
Both the Committee and the White House are in lock step on helping NASA find ways to stay within existing dollar caps in building the ISS, Boehlert said.
Boehlert said that he expected America's international partners in the ISS program not to turn the other way, due to project turmoil. The respective roles of the various partners in the world project should be rethought, he said.
Regarding NASA's overall direction, Boehlert told SPACE.com that he is "the new kid on the block."
"I've been on this Committee for 19 years, but I've been dealing with other issues as priorities," Boehlert said. "But I am now giving a high priority to space and I'm on a learning curve. One thing I know is that I don't know a hell of a lot," he said.
National missile defense
Touching on the military uses of space, Boehlert said there are proper applications for the military, such as in the intelligence-gathering arena, he said. In the area of national missile defense, he is supportive of research and development.
"I'm not prepared to vote for a deployment right now because I don't think we're ready," Boehlert said. Right now, there's no clear scientific agreement to make a compelling case that the country should spend "tons of money" and deploy a national missile defense system, he said.
When Star Wars and the Strategic Defense Initiative were first touted, everybody was enthused about having "the ultimate insurance policy for next to nothing," Boehlert said.
"Well, the next to nothing certainly wasn't right. And the ultimate insurance policy is still a dream," Boehlert told SPACE.com.
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