Brown Backs Space Station; DOE Lab Bill Advances
The space station received a timely vote of support yesterday from Rep. George Brown (D-California), following a caucus meeting of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Ending much speculation, Chairman Brown issued this formal statement after the meeting:
“I have concluded that the proposed funding level for NASA, while substantially below what I believe is needed by the nation’s space program, is adequate to continue the Space Station program this year. I will vigorously support the Space Station and do everything possible to ensure its continuation.
“I came to this conclusion based on consultation with other Members of the Committee, and on an analysis of what I believe the impact of funding NASA at this level has had on the S&T [science and technology] budgets of other agencies in the VA\HUD\IA [Independent Agencies] account. Preserving this level of funding for NASA has not, for example, required undue sacrifices for NSF and EPA. NASA remains the only agency to receive both less than the President’s request and less than it received in FY94.
“The Space Station continues to be the centerpiece of our human spaceflight program and has emerged as a major international cooperative program that will establish a valuable precedent for the future. Through this partnership with Europe, Japan, Canada, and now Russia, the space faring nations of the world will establish a facility that will enable valuable new research in life and materials sciences.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the Administration to structure a long range budget for NASA that will make the Space Station an integral part of a balanced space program.”
Brown’s pledge to “vigorously support” the space station will be an important factor in the battle on the House floor over the space station, which is now expected during the last week of June. Further information on the NASA and NSF components of this bill is provided in FYIs #82 and 83.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL LAB BILL:
On June 9, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved its version of H.R. 1432 to redefine the missions of the DOE national laboratories. The committee rejected an amendment to cut lab funding over the next three years, and voted to allow the labs to work on commercial applications. Negotiations over a final version of H.R. 1432 will occur (see FYI #62 on the science committee bill) before the House votes on a final bill later this summer. The Senate has already passed its version of this legislation, S. 473.
