Will Congress Get the 2016 NASA Transition Authorization Act and Other Bills Approved?

Senate Commerce and House SS&T Committees Approve Space Bills, Space Policy Online
“The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee each held markups today of space-related legislation. The Senate committee approved the 2016 NASA Transition Authorization Act and the INSPIRE Women Act. The House committee approved the TREAT Astronauts Act. Congress is only scheduled to be in session for a few more weeks in 2016, but if all parties are sufficiently motivated to reach compromise, there is more than enough time to get the bills to the President’s desk before the end of the 114th Congress.”
“The bill authorizes $19.508 billion for NASA for FY2017. It does not address funding beyond that one year, which begins October 1. The total is the same as approved by the House Appropriations Committee in its version of the FY2017 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill, which has not been considered by the House yet. It is $202 million more than the Senate Appropriations Committee approved. The money is allocated to NASA’s budget accounts in line with the Senate Appropriations CJS bill except that the extra $202 million is added to the Exploration account, which pays for SLS and Orion.”
Marc’s note: While Marcia almost sounds optimistic, there isn’t much time left to get these bills passed. As usual, leaving bills to the last minute is par for the course. We’ll see what jockeying occurs in the next few weeks.
Related:
– Commerce Approves NASA Transition Act, BOTS Act, and 3 Other Bills
– Chairman John Thune – Majority Statement – NASA Transition Act, 4 Other Bills
– Senator Bill Nelson – Minority Statement – NASA Transition Act, 4 Other Bills
– Bipartisan Astronaut Health Bill Passes Out of Committee
– The Coalition for Deep Space Exploration Congratulates Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on Approval of NASA Transition Authorization Act
– CompTIA Supports NASA Authorization Bill