NASA’s Appropriations Committee Markup, NASA Blog
“Today, the House Appropriations Committee is marking up legislation to provide 2014 appropriations for NASA. While we appreciate the support of the Committee, we are deeply concerned that the bill under consideration would set our funding level significantly below the President’s request. This proposal would challenge America’s preeminence in space exploration, technology, innovation, and scientific discovery. We are especially concerned the bill cuts funding for space technology – the “seed corn” that allows the nation to conduct ever more capable and affordable space missions – and the innovative and cost-effective commercial crew program, which will break our sole dependence on foreign partners to get to the Space Station. The bill will jeopardize the success of the commercial crew program and ensure that we continue to outsource jobs to Russia.
In the coming months, NASA will continue to work with the Congress to move towards legislation that funds a balanced portfolio for NASA to spur economic growth here on Earth and maintain American preeminence in space exploration.”
Marc’s note: The next salvo has been launched in the budget battle.

5 replies on “NASA is Not Happy With Appropriations Markup”

  1. Not that I don’t agree with everything Mr. Weaver is saying, I do. But, this, coming from an official NASA blogpost, sounds like lobbying to me, which I thought NASA was not allowed to do. Could someone please clarify those rules for me? Also, it would be nice if the President could find a few minutes to speak up on behalf of his own NASA budget request instead of leaving it to people the Congress is likely to ignore. Thank you.

  2. I don’t think it’s lobbying for agency personnel to speak to the public about the effects of budget cuts. Approaching legislators directly would be lobbying. That is legal for contractors however.

    1. The statement, “In the coming months, NASA will continue to work with the Congress…” sounds very much like lobbying.

      1. Technically NASA just answers legislators’ queries, though of course it tries to persuade them.

  3. One of NASA’s Grand Challenges is Economic Access to Space.

    Studies have shown cheaper alternatives to Space
    http://www.spaceref.com/new…

    In the blog, “We are especially concerned the bill cuts funding for space technology – the “seed corn” that allows the nation to conduct ever more capable and affordable space missions”

    Rogers Commission Report On Challenger
    http://history.nasa.gov/rog…
    “Let us make recommendations to ensure that NASA officials deal in a
    world of reality in understanding technological weaknesses and imperfections well enough to be actively trying to eliminate them.

    They must live in reality in comparing the costs and utility of the Shuttle
    to other methods of entering space. And they must be realistic in making
    contracts, in estimating costs, and the difficulty of the projects.

    Only realistic flight schedules should be proposed, schedules that have a
    reasonable chance of being met. If in this way the government would not support them, then so be it. NASA owes it to the citizens from whom it asks support to be frank, honest, and informative, so that these citizens can make the wisest decisions for the use of their limited resources.

    For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled.”

    Can someone explain how well the system is working?

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