Senators, Representatives Express Opposition to Disproportionate Cuts to NASA Science Budget

Congressional action on the budget is focused on appropriations legislation for Fiscal Year 2014 that starts on October 1. However, the FY 2013 budget cycle is still a work in progress as various departments and agencies develop their operating plans for the remainder of this fiscal year. Concern about NASA’s operating plan for its Planetary Science program resulted in two senators and two representatives writing to Administrator Charles Bolden expressing opposition to disproportionate budgetary reductions to this program.

The April 18 letter was signed by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Rep. John Culberson (R-TX). Schiff and Culberson are members of the House Appropriations Committee and have been outspoken in their support of NASA and its science programs. Feinstein is on the Senate Appropriations Committee; Boxer is a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee that has jurisdiction over NASA.

The letter follows:

“Dear Administrator Bolden:

We write to express opposition to any Fiscal Year 2013 NASA Operating Plan that disproportionately applies sequester and across-the-board cuts to the Science budget.

“Both the House and Senate rejected the Administration’s FY 13 budget proposal to drastically reduce available funding for the Mars, Outer Planets and Discovery missions, within Planetary Science. H.R. 933 [the bill providing funding for the remainder of this fiscal year] and the accompanying report language provide NASA specific instructions on how to fund a balanced Planetary Science portfolio:

• $192,000,000 for Planetary Science Research;
• $243,980,000 for Discovery;
• $175,000,000 for New Frontiers;
• $450,800,000 for Mars Exploration; and
• $159,000,000 for Outer Planets.

“The report provides further instruction for the Mars and Outer Planets programs:

• ‘Within the amount provided for Mars Exploration, $146,400,000 is for the continued development of the MAVEN mission, $65,000,000 is for operation of the Mars Science Laboratory and $239,400,000 is for other Mars activities, including the formulation of a future Mars mission that is responsive to the scientific goals of the most recent planetary science decadal survey and the potential completion of instrumentation or other contributions to international Mars exploration efforts.’

• ‘Within the amount provided for Outer Planets, $75,000,000 shall be for pre-formulation and/or formulation activities in support of a mission that achieves the scientific goals laid out in the Jupiter Europa section of the most recent planetary science decadal survey. These activities include, but are not limited to, concept studies and concept development, technology development and requirements definition.’

“While we fully understand that the funding levels enumerated in the bill and report are subject to change to reflect the across the board and sequester cuts, we expect that the balance among programs will remain consistent with the structure directed by Congress. We appreciate your personal attention to this matter and look forward to working with you to ensure a workable and robust Planetary Sciences program.”

“Sincerely,”