Senate FY 2015 NASA Appropriations Bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee released its report yesterday accompanying the FY 2015 Commerce Justice, Science Appropriations Bill. Report 113-181 provides the appropriators’ recommendations regarding the agencies funded by S. 2437. The House Appropriations Committee developed its own version of this funding legislation in early May.

The very extensive Senate language regarding the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is on pages 106 - 122 the report .

Total NASA:

The FY 2014 appropriation was $17,646.5 million
The FY 2015 request is $17,460.6 million, a decrease of $185.9 million or 1.1 percent
The House bill provides $17,896.0 million, an increase of $249.5 million or 1.4 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $17,900.0 million, an increase of $253.5 million or 1.4 percent above current funding

Report language found on pages 106 - 108 pertains to the committee’s rebalancing of the Administration’s request, human spaceflight, the selection of launch vehicles, oversight and accountability, and adherence to the committee’s funding levels.

Within NASA are the following programs:

Science:

The FY 2014 appropriation was $5,151.2 million
The FY 2015 request is $4,972.0 million, a decrease of $179.2 million or 3.5 percent
The House bill provides $5,193.0 million, an increase of $41.8 million or 0.8 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $5,200.0 million, an increase of $48.8 million or 0.9 percent above current funding

Important report language, including a funding table, found on pages 108 - 113 pertains to Earth Science Missions; Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, Ecosystems; Landsat Data Continuity; Carbon Monitoring; Jason-3 and DSCOVR; Planetary Science; Discovery Program; New Frontiers; New Horizons; Europa; Mars Exploration; Astrophysics; WFIRST Science Mission; Senior Review Panel for Astrophysics; James Webb Space Telescope; Heliophysics; and Science Mission Directorate, Education.

Aeronautics:

The FY 2014 appropriation was $566.0 million
The FY 2015 request is $551.1 million, a decrease of $14.9 million or 2.6 percent
The House bill provides $666.0 million, an increase of $100.0 million or 17.7 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $551.1 million, a decrease of $14.9 million or 2.6 percent below current funding

Report language found on pages 113 - 114 pertains to funding for rotary craft research and the Advanced Composites Project.

Space Technology:

The FY 2014 appropriation was $576.0 million
The FY 2015 request is $705.5 million, an increase of $129.5 million or 22.5 percent
The House bill provides $620.0 million, an increase of $44.0 million or 7.6 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $580.2 million, an increase of $4.2 million or 0.7 percent above current funding

Report language found on page 114 pertains to Crosscutting Space Technology and Small Business programs.

Exploration:

The FY 2014 appropriation was $4,113.2 million
The FY 2015 request is $3,976.0 million, a decrease of $137.2 million or 3.3 percent
The House bill provides $4,167.0 million, an increase of $53.8 million or 1.3 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $4,367.7 million, an increase of $254.5 million or 6.2 percent above current funding

Important report language found on pages 115 - 118 pertains to Human Exploration Capabilities; Commercial Crew; and Advanced Exploration Systems.

Space Operations:

The FY 2014 appropriation was $3,778.0 million
The FY 2015 request is $3,905.4 million, an increase of $127.4 million or 3.4 percent
The House bill provides $3,885.0 million, an increase of $107.0 million or 2.8 percent above current funding
The Senate bill provides $3,830.8 million, an increase of $52.8 million or 1.4 percent above current funding

Report language found on pages 118 - 120 pertains to International Space Station; Commercial Cargo Resupply; Satellite Servicing; and the 21st Century Launch Complex Program.

Education:

The FY 2014 appropriation is $116.6 million
The FY 2015 request is $88.9 million, a decrease of $27.7 million or 23.8 percent
The House bill provides $106.0 million, a decrease of $10.6 million or 9.1 percent below current funding
The Senate bill provides $108.0 million, a decrease of $8.6 million or 7.4 percent below current funding

Report language found on page 120 pertains to Workforce Development; Space Grant; and STEM Education and Accountability Program.