NASA Appropriations Mark-up Hearing

Keith’s note: NASA-related things from today’s Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science subcommittee mark-up:

• Sen. Moran R-KS likes what has been done to NASA’s budget. “Allocation the committee was given shows real increase in spending power of 279M – an increase 0.37% above FY 2025 level. This bill is close to being a normal bill.”
• Sen. Moran R-KS – “Science funding makes minimal cut $60M to NSF 0.67% decrease. The NASA budget mark ($$ not mentioned) reflects an ambitious approach to space exploration and NASA’s flagship program Artemis – rejects premature cancellation of SLS and Orion before commercial replacements are available. Accelerates plans to place Americans on the Lunar surface before the Chinese and then sends astronauts to Mars. Supports Earth science and safeguard Earth from natural disasters.”
• Sen. Van Hollen D-MD said “for NASA we provided $24.9B slightly above FY 2025. CJS Bill will have NASA at $24.9B and that the agency should focus on solar system exploration, climate change, sustainable aeronautics, and rejected rejected cuts that would have cut 47% of the science budget and led to cancellation of 55 missions. Provides $7.3 billion to NASA Science.”
• Sen. Durbin D-IL – “Houston has a problem – A Space Shuttle has been exhibited at Smithsonian in Chantilly, VA for 12 years. It has had 25 million visitors. One of the states that lost the competition has a new idea: let’s do it over again and make sure Texas wins. They added $85 million to move the shuttle to Texas. That is not what is necessary or what it would cost. NASA and Smithsonian said the cost would be $305 million. Where will Houston get the money to house the shuttle – $178 million would have to be added onto the cost. This will be the first time in history of the Smithsonian that someone has forcibly taken possession of an exhibit. Let’s be honest about this – if you are going use reconciliation funds to move this – its a heist by Texas because they lost the competition 12 years go.”