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July 22, 2005

Bipartisan Compromise Yields Positive Results for NASA

(Washington, DC) Intense, constructive negotiations produced NASA Authorization legislation that today received widespread bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 3070, the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 passed by a vote of 383-15.

"We’ve come a long way with regard to providing clear policy and funding direction in this bill," stated House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN). "The large margin of passage today reflects the House’s wisdom in funding the Administration’s exploration initiative in a way that doesn’t undercut NASA’s other core areas. Make no mistake, overwhelming passage should not be misunderstood as a blanket endorsement of the Moon-Mars initiative. Rather it is strong policy guidance from the House that aeronautics, education and scientific research are key NASA areas that are at least as important as human exploration."

"That’s our job here in Congress - to provide NASA with forward thinking guidance and a framework to achieve good results. The legislation before us today is a much improved bill from where we started," added Rep. Gordon.

The Science Committee maintains sole jurisdiction over the authorization and completed consideration of the bill last week. Committee Democrats initially withheld support for H.R. 3070 until agreements on several key principles could be reached. Science Democrats even introduced alternative legislation (H.R. 3250). In the end, a substantial number of the provisions in the Democrats’ bill were incorporated into the present version. As a result, the bill passed Committee unanimously.

"This bill is a big step toward ensuring that balanced and sensible priorities are maintained at NASA," added Space Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO). "NASA conducts work in science, aeronautics and human space flight, which all play an important role in our civil space program. This legislation works to ensure each of these areas is adequately represented within NASA's priorities."

Due in large part to Democratic input, the bill passed by the House today now includes:

  • Multiyear funding guidance.
  • Legislative language and restructured budgetary accounts to help provide funding firewalls and ensure balance is maintained between NASA programs (i.e. science, aeronautics, and human space flight programs.)
  • Increased funding for NASA’s science programs.
  • Funding for fundamental, applied, and commercial microgravity research.
  • Funding for a Hubble servicing mission.
  • Funding and policy guidance for a revitalized aeronautics R&D program at NASA.
  • Provisions to address workforce and infrastructure issues.
  • Priorities for the Human Exploration program.
  • Flexible goals rather than hard deadlines for NASA’s human spaceflight program.

The Manager’s Amendment increases funding for FY06 to $16.9 billion and elevates FY07 funding to $17.7 billion. This increase restores the full funding requested by the Administration for Human Exploration - without cutting the Science, Aeronautics, and Education funding levels provided in the bill.

"I am pleased that the bill supports a balanced NASA and separates funding for exploration, science, and aeronautics into separate accounts to ensure they all receive the necessary funding," stated Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA). "I am grateful that the manager’s amendment includes my amendment to extend the moratorium on reductions in force or involuntary separations as part of a workforce transformation. Finally, I’m pleased that the bill emphasizes the life science applications of the International Space Station and that the manager’s amendment specifically mentions the ISS centrifuge."

"I am pleased with the bipartisan strides that the House Science Committee has made to work together to achieve the best results for NASA. Such an inclusive compromise indicates that this country can truly achieve its vision of space exploration for generations to come," commented Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX).

"I am very pleased with the funding for a Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission. Some of the greatest scientific benefits from Hubble have been the unexpected discoveries that have expanded our knowledge about our solar system," said Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT).

Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) emphasized bill language he worked to include that makes the promotion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education a NASA priority. "I am pleased that the consensus bill authorizes the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program," said Rep. Miller. "The Space Grant Program helps to promote strong science, mathematics and technology education from elementary school through graduate school. It is a key tool for NASA to attract and train its next generation of scientists."

"For decades NASA has attracted some of our best and brightest," stated Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). "Most individuals don’t realize how much technology has been developed under this program, and it is difficult to image what our daily lives would be like if not for NASA."

"This bill provides the balance necessary at NASA between space flight and research and education, and I am pleased to support it," added Research Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-OR).

"In the wake of the Columbia disaster, NASA has taken unprecedented steps to improve shuttle safety," said Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA). "Space exploration will never be without limits, but this bill provides NASA with sound guidance for fostering safer space discovery."