In response to a question from the audience following his first public speech on space matters, Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-New York) indicated he does not care for Russias plan to launch U.S. millionaire Dennis Tito to the space station, but stopped short of saying he will attempt to stop it.

"Im not overly excited about our friend who is paying $20 million to go into space," Boehlert said. "I dont think we are ready for that."

Earlier this month, Boehlert replaced F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin) as chairman of the committee in the U.S. House of Representatives that authorizes NASAs spending level and budget priorities.

In an address at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administrations Commercial Space Transportation Conference here, Boehlert conceded he has much to learn about space policy matters. But he promised to be a friend of the space community. "You will have a friend at the helm of the Science Committee," he said.

"[Space] needs more attention," Boehlert said. "It will get it from me and get it from the administration" of U.S. President George W. Bush, Boehlert said.

While generally avoiding specifics on policy issues, Boehlert did voice support for the idea of reestablishing a White House-based group to oversee space policy matters. "I anticipate that we will have such a council," Boehlert said.

The Science Committees space and aeronautics subcommittee oversees NASA. That panel will continue to be chaired by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-California), but its overall membership has not yet been determined, Boehlert said.