WASHINGTON (States News Service) - The towns of Newport News and Hampton Virginia have formed a task force to keep NASA's Langley Research Center open, the Virginian-Pilot reported last week. The mayors of both towns, representatives from NASA, Lockheed, and other Langley users, as well as the newspaper itself have signed on to launch a lobbying and public awareness campaign in response to Congressionally-proposed cuts to NASA's budget that could potentially harm or close Langley.

"We are not participating in the task force, for various ethical reasons," Langley spokesman Michael Finneran said. "But if they have any questions or need any information, we'll be able to provide it."

Newport News Mayor Joe S. Frank and Hampton Mayor Joseph H. Spencer II are running the hastily-formed task force, which held its first meeting Aug. 5, the paper said. Over 30 people attended the meeting at the Virginia Air and Space Center. They are working with Virginia's congressional delegation and with the Chambers of Commerce to raise public awareness of the center's benefits.

The Langley center employs 3,761 people directly, 1,482 of which are on-site contractors, Finneran said.