The Hill is reporting this morning that former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who once wielded his influence to benefit NASA, will now have a new way to support the space agency: he is expected to be named today to the Science, State, Justice, Commerce subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, the subcommittee with oversight of the NASA budget. (The Hill first reported on this last month.) DeLay took a leave from the committee in 2003 when he became majority leader, but now that he has resigned that post, planned to return to the committee (a move aided by the resignation of Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who also served on the full committee, in December.) As part of that shuffle, one of two existing subcommittee members with NASA ties—Dave Weldon of Florida or John Culberson of Texas—might have to move to the defense subcommittee. If this goes, DeLay would be in line to chair the subcommittee next year, succeeding current subcommittee chair Frank Wolf (R-VA)—assuming, of course, DeLay win reelection and Republicans keep their hold on the House.
