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U.S. Senate Votes to Add $1 Billion to NASA Budget

report from Lori Garver,
Planetary Society Washington Representative

October 4, 2007

This afternoon the U.S. Senate passed the NASA Restoration Act of 2008, providing NASA with an additional $1 billion in appropriation for fiscal year 2008. The additional funds are to reimburse NASA for the costs of returning the space shuttle to flight status, following the Columbia accident in 2003.

The measure required 60 votes to pass, as it is considered an emergency funding bill.  Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) spearheaded the amendment with co-sponsors that included Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY).  Senator's Mikulski, Hutchison, Shelby (R-AL), Nelson (D-FL), Martinez (R-FL) and Landrieu (D-LA) all spoke on behalf of the amendment.  Only Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) spoke against it.  Sensing overall support of the bill, Senator Mikulski called for unanimous consent by voice vote.  Hearing no dissent, the measure was adopted.

The Senate should finish discussion of the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Committee by tomorrow.  If that bill passes as presented, it will include $17.5 billion for NASA.  The House version of the same bill includes $17.6 billion for NASA, but no $1 billion plus-up amendment.

The House and Senate conferees will meet, following the Columbus Day recess next week, to determine the final NASA Appropriation.

The final bill will then be sent to the President for signature.  President Bush has already stated that he will veto the CJS Bill as passed, since it is several billion dollars over his request (even before the NASA $1 billion increase).

THANKS FOR YOUR QUICK – AND DECISIVE – ACTION

We thank all Planetary Society members who responded so quickly to yesterday’s call to action  in support of the amendment providing the $1 billion reimbursement to NASA.

You helped turn the tide!

Keep tuned to these pages for updates in The Planetary Society’s “Save Our Science” campaign.

Thanks again for your support.

If the bill is vetoed, it will be sent back to the House and Senate to begin the process again.  If this happens, most of the appropriations bills will likely be wrapped into an "Omnibus Spending Bill."  Final action on this legislation is not likely until the end of the year.

Currently NASA, and most of the rest of the government, is being funded by a Continuing Resolution (CR) that runs out November 15.  Congress can extend the CR if necessary.