NASA

North Alabama has a proud tradition supporting our nation's space program. Today, we're one of the nation's leading manufacturing centers for the rockets that NASA will use for years to come as well as Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

As the only Alabama Member on the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, my primary responsibility will be to work with my colleagues determining funding for NASA and particularly Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

I'm very proud of the history of Marshall and will fight to ensure that it receives the funding necessary for it to continue its important work. As NASA retires the space shuttle, rockets such as the Ares I that are managed by Marshall will become increasingly important. I also serve as a member of the House Action Team which looks after the interests of NASA.

Current Legislation (Updated September 24, 2007)

H.R. 3093, FY2008 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill: Included in this bill is $3.9 billion for NASA Exploration Systems funding, $467 million above 2007 and the same as the President’s request, for new technology and capability for manned exploration in space. This program is important for Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

On April 18, 2007, I sent a letter to Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Chairman Alan Mollohan and Ranking Member Rodney Frelinghuysen requesting that NASA Exploration Systems be funded at $4.423 billion. This amount was a $500 million increase over the President's requested level to make up for the $500 million cut that occurred when Congress passed the FY2007 Continuing Resolution earlier this year. NASA has told Congress that it would take this $500 million increase in order to make them whole. To see a copy of the letter, click here.

While the bill is still short the additional $500 million I requested, there is still a ways to go in the legislative process and it's my hope that additional money will be found to make this happen. The bill passed the House on July 26, 2007 and is currently awaiting action by the Senate.

H.J. Res. 20, Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007: This measure amended the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007 that passed the House during the 109^th Congress and extended specified continuing appropriations through FY2007.

I voted against the FY07 Continuing Resolution largely in part because it funded NASA exploration at $500 million less than the President’s request. I have already emphasized both to NASA Headquarters and to the Subcommittee my view that a fully-funded exploration budget is critical to our nation’s future. With China pouring resources into their program and shooting down a U.S. satellite, our space program is actually part of our national security as well.