Science Committee Leaders Commend House Passage of NASA Reauthorization
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee leaders praised the House passage of H.R. 8958, the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024. This bipartisan legislation reaffirms our commitment to leading global space and science endeavors and emphasizes the importance of commercial partnerships and international collaboration in advancing space exploration and scientific research.
“NASA plays a pivotal role in driving our nation’s science and technology competitiveness,” Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) said. “Therefore, we must ensure the agency has the framework needed to navigate the increasingly competitive global space sector. H.R. 8958 is a comprehensive bill that provides NASA with the necessary direction to maintain our U.S. leadership in space and steer with our democratic values. This includes firm commitments to advancing human space exploration, direction for ongoing and future missions, and support for bold scientific research. Today’s passage of this critical Science Committee legislation is a much-needed step to ensure we advance as the world’s premier space agency while breaking barriers and pushing the limits of our achievements. Many thanks to Ranking Member Lofgren, Chairman Babin, and Ranking Member Sorensen for their leadership on this bill and all our members, staff, and stakeholders for their support and valuable input. I am eager for this bill to progress through the Senate and be signed into law. It’s been over seven years since we comprehensively reauthorized NASA. We must act swiftly to guarantee success now and for the future.”
“Today, we reaffirmed our nation’s commitment to space exploration, Earth and space science, aeronautics, space technology, and education,” Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) said. “NASA has long been at the forefront of America’s reputation as a leader in innovation and technology, and this bill will help continue that legacy. NASA’s missions and transformational accomplishments have inspired rising generations of STEM students and professionals for decades. Last week, we honored all NASA’s Hidden Figures with their Congressional Gold Medals. With the legacies of all those trailblazing women in mind, I’m proud that this bill continues the Agency’s support for NASA’s STEM education portfolio, including the Minority Research and Education Project. From Moon to Mars to understanding and addressing the climate crisis, NASA’s work is vast and impressive. Just outside my district, NASA’s Ames Research Center is conducting game-changing work to use drones to fight back against wildfires—as a native of California, where wildfire season is now year-round, I’m glad this reauthorization will support this life-saving work. I thank Chairman Lucas for his work on this bipartisan bill, and I look forward to seeing it make its way to the President’s desk.”
“Today’s bipartisan bill will keep NASA on track to return to the Moon, strengthen our leadership role in low-Earth orbit, enable further exploration of our solar system and universe, and push the boundaries of flight,” Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX) said. “By cementing our goals and providing much-needed guidance, we ensure NASA’s continued success amongst changing administrations while enabling it to meet the rising challenge that the Chinese Communist Party poses in space. I thank Chairman Lucas for his support and will continue working to get this critical legislation across the finish line.”
“NASA plays an important role in helping advance scientific research and push the bounds of human space exploration and discovery,” Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Eric Sorensen (D-IL) said. “And this NASA reauthorization bill will only assist NASA making sure they complete that mission. As a meteorologist, I have spent my entire career using data and information that NASA provided to help my neighbors understand science and what is happening in the world around them. And now as their trusted voice in Washington, I have been able to witness firsthand how better interagency coordination at the federal level will allow NASA to continue to innovate and inspire. That is why in this reauthorization, I was proud to see my NASA SPREES Act, which promotes this type of collaboration, included in this bill. I am grateful to take part in helping lead this bipartisan NASA reauthorization bill through the House with my colleagues from across the aisle.”
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