In addition to the lobbying efforts noted earlier today to try and get Sen. Mikulski’s emergency NASA funding amendment passed, a couple of other organizations are making a push to win support for it. The SETI Institute sent out a special message to the subscribers of its electronic newsletter, asking them to send messages in support of the amendment (already helpfully filled out) to key senators on the appropriations committee, including committee chairman Thad Cochran and ranking Democrat Robert Byrd. In addition, the Space Exploration Alliance released a letter today to those same senators asking for their support. The text of the letter is provided below:
Senators Cochran, Byrd, Shelby, and Mikulski,
Representing over 100,000 American citizens, the Space Exploration Alliance strongly supports the amendment to the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007 due to be proposed by Senators Mikulski and Hutchison.
Senators Mikulski and Hutchison have correctly noted that the expenses incurred as a result of the loss of the Columbia Space Shuttle orbiter, and as a result of damages inflicted on several NASA facilities during the hurricane season of 2005, have forced the agency to confront damaging cuts to exploration, science, and aeronautics that would seriously harm America’s space leadership. Just as emergency funding appropriated by Congress following the 1986 loss of the Shuttle Challenger enabled NASA to return the remaining orbiters to flight and to augment the Shuttle fleet with a new orbiter, the emergency funding requested by Senators Mikulski and Hutchinson will enable NASA to restore these cuts, fulfill its balanced mission and maintain America’s leadership in space.
NASA has been given a critical mission to expand America’s presence in space, driving technical innovation and scientific breakthroughs while ensuring America’s competitiveness as a high tech world leader. NASA’s ability to complete this mission is dependent on the allocation of the appropriate funds to do so, and the enormous expenses resulting from the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Rita justify emergency expenditures to keep the mission on track.
SEA represents American citizens; including tens of thousands of grassroots supporters of space exploration and development, as well as thousands more workers in the aerospace sector. On behalf of these Americans, the Space Exploration Alliance supports the earliest possible Congressional adoption of the Mikulski-Hutchison Amendment.
Space Exploration Alliance Members:
American Astronautical Society, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, California Space Authority, Federation of Galaxy Explorers, Aerospace Industries Association, Aerospace States Association, Florida Space Authority, Moon Society, The Mars Society, NASA Alumni League, National Coalition of Spaceport States, The National Society of Black Engineers, The National Space Society, The Planetary Society, ShareSpace Foundation, Space Access Society, Space Generation Foundation
