This is already in the cards via the commercial crew development process. SpaceX has already flown a pressurized capsule and returned it safely to Earth several

This is already in the cards via the commercial crew development process. SpaceX has already flown a pressurized capsule and returned it safely to Earth several times, they are currently working on a manned capsule which will be one of the most capable manned spacecraft in quite some time. And it will almost certainly be used to ferry US crew to the ISS. However, a lot of people don't realize that the commercial crew program is not fully funded by congress. There's a little bit of funding for developing certain novel aspects of manned spacecraft, which has been doled out to the current commercial crew hopefuls (SpaceX, Boeing, and SNC). But, even if any or all of those companies deliver a capable manned spacecraft there's no guarantee whatsoever that there will be money available for a contract. One of the important things that Musk is doing here is drawing attention to that fact.