Cantwell Joins Call for NASA Office of Education Funding

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) signed a letter along with 33 senators urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to support NASA's Office of Education in the coming fiscal year. President Trump's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) would eliminate NASA's Office of Education, which works to inspire and educate students across the country to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

In Washington state, funding from NASA's Office of Education enables students to explore careers in STEM-related fields across all grade levels, including fellowships and internships at colleges and universities. Washington state has more STEM related jobs than any other state. As technology based industries continue to boom in the Evergreen state, engaging students in STEM education will help grow the state's economy, close opportunity gaps and fill jobs.

"Given the importance of STEM education and the success of Hidden Figures, which was recently celebrated by high-ranking members of the Trump Administration at a screening at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, we were disappointed by President Trump's budget proposal to eliminate funding for NASA's Office of Education in FY18," wrote the Senators. "We recognize that you face significant budget constraints, but we urge you to support the NASA Office of Education because its mission is critical to boosting the nation's workforce competitiveness."

"A skinny black kid from a small southern town, who never imagined working in the space industry, was given an opportunity to do so because of NASA Education," said Leland Melvin, astronaut from Lynchburg and former NASA Associate Administrator for Education. "The experiences, activities, and inspiration that NASA Education provides to students, teachers and the community can't be duplicated by any other organization. No other federal agency works so closely with the scientists and engineers who make it possible for us all to explore and discover space - this is STEM in action. I worked for 24 years as a research scientist, engineer, astronaut and associate administrator of NASA Education. My career was only possible because of the programs committed to providing opportunity to anyone willing to pursue their dreams. It is imperative that we inspire the next generation of STEM explorers by continuing to fund NASA education."

"As a network of state-based consortia, NASA's National Space Grant Program has had and continues to have significant impact on building the STEM workforce and engaging and retaining students in STEM fields to meet critical national needs," said Mary Sandy, director of the Virginia Space Grant Consortium. "Our Space Grant Consortia leverage NASA funding with state matching funds to undertake programs to meet state and national needs. We are deeply appreciative of the strong continued support of members of Congress for NASA's National Space Grant Program and the wonderful work done by NASA's Office of Education."

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