Two Republican members of the US Senate have spoken out recently to defend NASA centers in their states that could be subject to cutbacks or (as some fear) closing. Tuesday’s Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) acknowledged that this year’s budget battle for NASA Glenn “is going to be a tougher fight.” DeWine admits that “we know we’ll lose some” employees, but is worried about cuts steep enough that would bring the center below a “critical mass” needed to carry out research there.

Meanwhile, Tuesday’s Hampton Roads Daily Press features an op-ed by Sen. George Allen (R-VA), writing in response to an editorial the newspaper published Friday asking readers to speak out to Congress in support of NASA Langley. Allen writes that he and fellow Virginian “representatives in Washington share the newspaper’s concern and are acting to reverse the unwise, harmful proposals related to aeronautics research and development jobs that are essential to the Peninsula and America’s future.” He notes that he inserted a “Sense of the Senate” amendment in a budget bill last week which states the Senate’s “belief that $1.5 billion should be allocated to the new aeronautics vehicle systems programs over the next five years.” Of course, belief is one thing, but funding to support those programs is something else entirely…