WASHINGTON (States News Service) - A House committee had good and bad news for NASA Tuesday: the space agency's budget may go up overall, but some new projects will be cut.
The news came from Rep. James Walsh (R-New York), who unveiled a multi-billion-dollar spending bill that gives NASA's budget a $112 million boost to $13.7 billion.
NASA had asked for $14 billion, but few budget-watchers expected that increase to come given the VA-HUD committee's tight spending limitations.
Walsh's bill gives $5.5 billion to the Office of Human Space Flight, $12 million over this year's levels, maintains steady funds for the International Space Station and gives the agency all it asked for to upgrade its shuttles.
Science, Aeronautics and Technology received a $26 million increase to $5.6 billion.
Yet the bill also swipes at some NASA programs, cutting the space launch initiative to find a replacement for the space shuttle by $300 million and denying any funding for the "Living with a Star" program to examine the sun.
"The challenge ahead of is getting this bill signed into law and it won't be easy," Walsh said. He added that if more funds become available throughout the budget process, "NASA science programs are worthy of our support."
But Democrats raised problems unrelated to NASA with the bill last night.
"I wish I could vote for this bill but I cannot," said Rep. David Obey (D-Wisc.), who lamented the lack of an increase in funds for veterans' medical research.
To make room for other priorities, the current bill chops NASA's aeronautics research by $300 million. The bill also prohibits the agency from sharing aeronautics research with the Air Force. Calling for more health research in space, the bill's report asks NASA to detail a long-term plan for life and microgravity research aboard the space station.
Although the Senate is not expected to cut NASA's budget, its upcoming version of the VA-HUD bill will be tight for cash.
The budget process wraps up in September and much could change before then.
Science Committee Chair James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisc., likens the negotiations process to "sausage being made," said one congressional aide. "It's not pretty to watch, but a good product at the end."
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