Press Releases :: April 19, 2007

Gordon and Udall Urge President to Help with NASA Funding

(Washington, DC)  Today, the Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology Bart Gordon (D-TN) and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Mark Udall (D-CO) urged the President to work with Members of Congress to ensure that NASA has the resources necessary to carry out its important work. 

Gordon and Udall are joining forces with other Members of Congress who are calling for the President to meet with them to address the NASA funding challenge.

In the years following the President’s January 2004 announcement of the Administration’s ambitious Vision for Space Exploration, NASA has faced a continued series of funding cutbacks to International Space Station (ISS) research, technology development for future exploration ventures, and for robotic exploration of the Moon.  In addition, the projected multi-year gap in U.S. independent access to space for its astronauts after the Shuttle’s retirement still remains a serious concern.

With respect to aeronautics the Chairmen wrote, “Your Administration recently released a national aeronautics research policy that sets worthwhile goals for addressing our nation’s future aviation needs.  However, without a corresponding commitment of the necessary resources, the goals espoused in the aeronautics policy will be difficult if not impossible to achieve.  Given the importance of the nation’s air transportation system to our economy and competitiveness, our national security, and our quality of life, we need to ensure that those goals are met.”

They also expressed similar concerns about the situation facing NASA’s science programs – including space science, Earth science, and the life and microgravity sciences – pointing to the impact of cutbacks in NASA’s basic research and small- and medium-sized missions on the next generation of scientists and engineers.

In their letter, the Chairmen ask the President to meet with Members of Congress who share a commitment to exploration, science and education, and aeronautics in an effort to address the challenges facing NASA.

Read a copy of the letter here.

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