Posted on 11/21/2004 1:15:57 PM PST by Brett66
Congress Fully Funds NASA - $16.2 Billion Funds Shuttle, ISS & Clears Way for Vision to Start
(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Representative Dave Weldon (R-FL) voted in favor of the final FY 2005 federal spending bill, which cleared the House today. Included in the measure was legislation that will fund NASA. In January, President Bush requested NASA be funded at $16.2 billion. This includes Florida-specific programs like Space Shuttle, International Space Station (ISS) and will enable NASA and industry to begin work on the Constellation Crew Exploration Vehicles, which will be integrated and launched from Florida.
"Today the Congress puts its stamp of approval on the President's Vision by fully funding NASA. I am proud that Congress also states that Space Shuttle Return to Flight is NASA's top priority and the essential first step for the Vision," said U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D.
In addition to proving funding, the legislation calls on NASA to provide near term and detailed reports on the future direction on Shuttle, ISS, future launch needs and the eventual transition to new human-rated space vehicles.
FY 2005 is the fourth budget presented by President Bush and shows a clear upward trend in terms of funding for NASA.
Weldon concluded, "I want to thank Chairman Young, Leader DeLay and President Bush for working hard and showing leadership on making sure NASA was priority this year. It is clear that a Republican Congress and a Republican Administration view space as a priority, reversing the downward funding trend of the last Administration. This is great news for the agency and to all the people working at KSC."
Ping.
Too bad most naysayers don't get exorcised about the really big expenditures on Social Security, Medi Care, etc. etc.
< /sarcasm >
A total waste.
Dammit. If they want to throw billons of dollars down a hole, I'll be happy to rent a backhoe and sacrifice my entire back yard.
Our future is in space. The sooner we get there for real the better. The shuttle was an expensive detour. We need to go permanently to the moon. Learn how to live there. And with that knowledge and experience go on to the rest of the solar system.
Why are we still wasting our time? The sooner the better.
Hey Brett, if you have created a ping list for all things space related, I would appreciate being added to your list. Thank you.
But most Americans don't know there are 14,000 line items of pork spending in the new budget. That is a true outrage.
Thank you for your response, that was the first intelligent response on this thread.
Ok, I'll put you on it.
I am realy happy about the good news
Thanks for the ping. Its about damn time Congress actually funded the space program per the president's request.
We used to say that air superiority was everything. It's long past time that superiority in space is everything. This is a positive step toward assuring our freedom and our economic future. America's Manifest Destiny is far from fulfilled. It's just beginning!
Stock Tips?
Hey, it's not like all that money leaves the country. The space program has given us numerous innovations in it's life span. Humans, especially innovative Americans, need something to reach for, and our future IS in space.
If they want to throw billons of dollars down a hole, I'll be happy to rent a backhoe and sacrifice my entire back yard.
So you were the one that rented the backhoe to Kennedy and Kerry for the Big Dig.
Every cent spent on the ISS is a cent flushed down the toilet.
And really I'd ditch the Space Shuttle immediately.
The problem isn't spending on the space program, it's what money is being spent on within the program.
It boggles my mind the amazing array of unmanned probes we could be launching with the money spent on that ISS rathole.
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