Rep. Calvert Welcomes President's Signature as the Final Step for the NASA Authorization Act of 2005
Tuesday, January 3, 2006
Rep. Calvert Welcomes President's Signature as the Final Step for the NASA Authorization Act of 2005
WASHINGTON, DC - On December 30, 2005, the President signed into law S. 1281, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Authorization Act of 2005. The President's signature completed the first NASA Authorization Act in five years. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona), the primary sponsor of the House version of the bill (H.R. 3070), welcomed the President's signature.
"The NASA Authorization Act of 2005 will help NASA excel during the Second Space Age. I believe that investing in NASA is an investment in our nation's future. Even in this time of budget deficits, the United States cannot abandon NASA's research and technology, and exploration programs - it is not in the American spirit to shy away from this investment in our global leadership. This bill continues our legacy as a leader in space exploration and technology advancements. The President has provided solid leadership in developing a new Vision for Space Exploration and his signature last week solidified that Vision."
Rep. Calvert chairs the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics on the House Science Committee.
Highlights of the bill include:
* Directs NASA to carry out programs in human space flight, aeronautics, space science, earth science and microgravity research.
* Endorses the President's Vision for Space Exploration.
* Changes NASA's budget structure to separate funding for human space flight and NASA's science, aeronautics and education activities.
* Authorizes about $17.9 billion for NASA in fiscal year 2007 and about $18.7 billion in fiscal year 2008 - significantly more than provided for the outyears in the Administration's fiscal year 2006 budget request.
* Requires that at least 15 percent of the spending for the International Space Station (ISS) be used for microgravity research not related to exploration programs.
* Enables NASA to carry out a prize program.
* Puts in new reporting requirements and cost controls, modeled on the Nunn-McCurdy controls that apply to the Department of Defense, that would require Congressional action if cost overruns on a project exceed set levels.
* Requires multi-year plans for aeronautics, science, facilities and workforce, and prevents layoffs (Reductions in Force) before March 16, 2007.
* Endorses a Shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope if it can be accomplished safely.
* Designates the U.S. portion of the ISS as a "national laboratory."
* Provides guidance for the transition from the Space Shuttle to the Crew Exploration Vehicle.
* Requires the National Academy of Sciences to review NASA's K-12 education programs.
* Establishes procedures for the appointment of a Presidential Commission in the event of the loss of a Shuttle or other manned vehicle.
http://calvert.house.gov/pressreleases.asp?ARTICLE4024=10614&PG4024=1