Congress « Space Politics

Parker Griffith can’t lose?

By Jeff Foust on 2010 January 25 at 1:07 pm ET

In a lengthy article about Congressman Parker Griffith’s party switch published today by the Huntsville Times, Griffith says that a lack of “enthusiasm” from the Obama Administration on human spaceflight was one of the reasons he decided to switch from the Democratic to the Republican Party. “Missile defense has been on the back burner; there […]

“A fairly lonely crusade”

By Jeff Foust on 2010 January 23 at 7:22 am ET

The Orlando Sentinel provided an update earlier this week on efforts to extend the shuttle program beyond its currently remaining five flights. As you might expect, there wasn’t much to update: there’s been little recent progress, and even advocates like Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL), who has introduced legislation to extend (HR 1962) to authorize funding […]

Florida caucuses, Ohio letters, Texas challengers, Virginia debates

By Jeff Foust on 2010 January 21 at 6:56 am ET

A special space state report:

A new Florida Space Caucus met this week in Tallahassee to discuss planned legislation to support the state’s space industry. The 42-member caucus plans to support a “handful” of bills this year, including incentives for companies as well as dedicated funding for Space Florida, the state space development agency. This […]

Gordon confirms NASA authorization in the works

By Jeff Foust on 2010 January 20 at 5:31 am ET

The chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee confirmed Tuesday that his committee will prepare a new NASA authorization bill this year, although its contents aren’t clear. “Congress believes that a strong and balanced civil space and aeronautics program of science, aeronautics, and human spaceflight and exploration is important and worthy of the nation’s […]

Briefly noted

By Jeff Foust on 2010 January 19 at 6:59 am ET

A few brief items of interest:

A planned review of the nation’s military space programs and policy could be delayed by several months. Defense News reports that the 2010 Space Posture Review may be delayed by several months and possibly up to a year. The review was scheduled for release next month, along with the […]

Feingold bill would delay Constellation

By Jeff Foust on 2010 January 18 at 12:37 pm ET

Last fall Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced S. 1808, legislation titled the “Control Spending Now Act” designed to, as its name suggests, reduce federal spending through a series of budget cuts and related reforms. No action has taken place on the bill since its introduction in October (understandably, as the Senate was a little busy […]

Another bid to extend the shuttle (and more)

By Jeff Foust on 2010 January 15 at 6:14 am ET

House legislation to extend the space shuttle program beyond its planned retirement this year may be joined by more a comprehensive Senate bill in the near future. At the symposium “Human Spaceflight and the Future of Space Science”, held yesterday in Washington by USRA and GWU’s Space Policy Institute, Jeff Bingham of the Senate Commerce […]

An outline of the new space policy?

By Jeff Foust on 2010 January 13 at 7:08 am ET

Florida Today published today its interpretation of the new space stategy that the White House will unveil in the coming weeks. Here’s what the newspaper thinks the new strategy will contain:

An increase in NASA’s budget of at least $1 billion; Extending the ISS through 2020; No extension of the shuttle program (sorry, Congressman Posey) […]

Posey still fighting for the shuttle

By Jeff Foust on 2010 January 13 at 6:46 am ET

With five shuttle missions left on the manifest, many people on the Space Coast are gearing up for life after the shuttle. One member of Congress, though, appears set on making one more try to keep the shuttle alive. Florida Today reported Tuesday that Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL) “pledged to pursue” authorization for additional shuttle […]

Nelson: White House to give NASA a “strong go signal”

By Jeff Foust on 2010 January 5 at 5:14 am ET

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) tells Central Florida News 13 that he is “cautiously optimistic” that the White House will provide additional money to NASA in the FY2011 budget proposal, due out next month, but wasn’t specific about what changes in direction the administration might make in the agency’s space exploration plans. “I think he will […]

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