America was born to explore, to innovate, and to lead.
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. –Last weekend, I was honored to stand alongside President Trump and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman as the Artemis II astronauts were awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. Under President Trump’s leadership, America has entered a new Golden Age of exploration, innovation, and discovery, and the historic success of Artemis II is proof that our nation is once again leading the way in space.
Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen launched on April 1, 2026, and splashed down on April 10 after completing an extraordinary 695,081-mile journey. Their mission pushed the boundaries of human exploration and demonstrated to the world what American ingenuity, courage, and determination can accomplish.But Artemis II was not the finish line. It laid the groundwork for Artemis III, our return to the lunar surface, and ultimately the establishment of a sustained American presence on the Moon. Each successful mission brings us one step closer to ensuring that the future of space exploration is led by the United States of America.
The courage and resolve of Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy carried them farther than any humans in history. In doing so, they achieved something that transcended the mission itself. They brought Americans along for the journey, appearing in living rooms across the country and reminding us what is possible when we dare to dream big and pursue the seemingly impossible.
It has been far too long since Americans watched in awe as our nation accomplished something the world had never seen before. Artemis II gave us that moment again. It was a powerful reminder that American ingenuity remains unmatched, American bravery knows no bounds, and our greatest days of exploration are still ahead.
It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as Chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and to represent Houston, our nation’s “Space City,” at such a pivotal moment in American history. I am committed to ensuring that NASA has the support it needs to keep America first in space and carry our flag farther than ever before.
At the ceremony, Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt said, “God is on our side in this infinitely complex movement of freedom into the solar system, and I’m absolutely convinced he wants us to go farther.”
I couldn’t agree more.
America was born to explore, to innovate, and to lead. I look forward to continuing to support NASA and the extraordinary men and women behind its missions as they blaze a trail for American leadership in space and inspire generations to come to go further.
