The Honorable Donna F. Edwards
Introduction of H.R. 2616, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration Authorization Act
July 9, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss H.R. 2616, “the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2013.”
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, is the nation’s crown jewel for spurring innovation, highly-skilled and good paying jobs, and inspiring the next generation of scientists. Since the Apollo era, NASA has been a cornerstone of domestic innovation, economic growth, and international competitiveness. Unfortunately, in the past few years, Congress has not funded NASA adequately in a way that reflects its unique role and its many contributions. Simply put, recent flat and reduced funding had required NASA to do too much with too little.
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Space Subcommittee, on which I proudly serve as the Ranking Member, has historically been known for its bipartisanship and commitment to a strong and vibrant space and aeronautics program at NASA. Last Wednesday, Committee leadership released a committee print of its authorization bill. Notwithstanding the fact that this current version of the Committee leadership’s legislation incorporates some positive clarifications from the version initially circulated for discussion two weeks ago, it still cuts NASA’s funding in Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14) by over $1 billion from the requested level.
The Committee leadership’s bill does not contain funding commensurate with the tasks NASA is already being asked to undertake while also adding NASA unfunded mandates. In particular, the majority’s legislation amends existing law to create the milestone of enabling humans to land on the Moon, while maintaining deep sequestration cuts over the life of the bill. I regret to say that if enacted, it would not help NASA meet the challenges facing the Agency.
That is why I, along with 11 original cosponsors of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, wish to provide an alternative which I hope will be the foundation for bipartisan support. This legislation is a pragmatic path forward that will give NASA a clear sense of purpose and direction in a way that also recognizes the nation’s need for fiscal restraint. NASA is and should remain a multi-mission agency with a balanced and robust set of core missions in science, aeronautics, space technology, and human space flight and exploration.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2616 does a number of important and necessary things by:
- Preserving NASA’s purchasing power relative to FY12 enacted levels by authorizing $18.1 billion for FY14 with inflationary increases over the three year authorization period of FY14 through FY16;
- Providing a clear goal of a crewed mission to the surface of Mars and requiring a roadmap which identifies intermediate destinations and activities that contribute to enabling the effective achievement of that goal;
- Recognizing the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion crew vehicle as the highest priorities for carrying out the Mars goal and authorizing increases that bring SLS funding to $1.8 billion by FY16;
- Emphasizing congressional commitment to safety in NASA’s human spaceflight activities by requiring an independent review of NASA’s commercial crew safety processes and procedures and providing for other measures to enable full government insight and oversight in ensuring safety;
- Providing robust funding for commercial crew system development of $700 million per year;
- Maintaining our commitment to International Space Station, ISS, operations through 2020 and initiating a process for determining if and how long ISS should operate beyond 2020;
- Authorizing increases for ISS research to augment discovery-based science and maximize the full and productive utilization of this unique laboratory;
- Restoring Planetary Science to $1.5 billion annual funding, following recent cuts to the program;
- Maintaining a sound Earth Sciences program that ensures observing systems development, and advances research, knowledge, and applied data uses that benefit society;
- Sustaining a stable aeronautics research program, consistent with FY12 enacted levels, that supports research priorities, strategic initiatives, and flight demonstrations;
- Recognizing the importance of investing in space technology to enable future missions, spur innovation, and contribute to economic growth and job-creation;
- Sustaining NASA’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, Education Activities and continues current agency education and outreach activities supported by scientists and engineers; and
- Including a number of “good government” provisions such as establishing measures to strengthen NASA’s cost estimating and fiscal management practices to minimize cost overruns in projects and assessing the capabilities and resources needed to expand NASA’s Near-Earth Objects program to include smaller objects.
In closing Mr. Speaker, this fiscally responsible bill puts NASA back on track to greatness and provides flexibility in how the agency is to implement engineering and scientific details. This Authorization bill is a vitally important opportunity to set the policy direction and authorize funding needed to both sustain NASA’s global excellence and preeminence in space and aeronautics and provide a clear and inspiring path forward for the nation’s human exploration of outer space.
