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Projects: Space Advocacy

Full House Passes NASA Authorization Bill for 2009

The U.S. House of Representatives has authorized NASA to spend $20.21 billion in fiscal year 2009, or $2.6 billion more than the administration's proposed budget. The authorization was contained in a bill proposed by the House Science and Technology Committee, and passed by the full House on Wednesday, June 18, 2008. In an impressive show of bipartisan support for NASA, the full House approved the Authorization Bill by a margin of 409 to 15.

In a demonstration of our members’ successful advocacy, The Planetary Society's comments on an earlier version are reflected in the final version of the House bill. The bill specifically recommends greater involvement of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in space missions.

"The Planetary Society has long been a leader in public involvement in space exploration," said Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society, "and the recent arrival on Mars of our 'Visions of Mars' collection on board the Phoenix is only the latest example."

The Society is also very encouraged to see that the House Authorization Bill endorses the principle of sending a mission to Mars at every launch opportunity.

An Authorization Bill, unlike an Appropriations Bill, does not actually appropriate funds to NASA. The spending levels listed in the bill are not binding, but they do set guidelines for the agency's spending and indicates Congress's priorities. The House vote marks an important step on the way to having the Authorization Bill adopted by the full Congress and signed into law.

Now that this Authorization Bill has completed its journey through the House, it heads to the Senate.   We have already written the Senate Committee in support of the House Bill, and urged them to pass a NASA Authorization Bill this year.