congress_iss_reax_010305 WASHINGTON -- U.S. President George W. Bushs recent decision to scale back NASAs hardware contribution to the International Space Station was greeted with concern by a fellow Texas Republican and close political ally.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) said NASA needs to stem the space station cost growth that prompted the restructuring, but insisted the United States should not back off of its commitment to the program.
The Bush administration
unveiled a 2001 budget outline Feb. 28 that calls for a 2-percent increase in overall NASA funding, but scales back the U.S. commitment to the space station program. Three key U.S. station components, including the habitation module, propulsion module and crew return vehicle, all face cancellation. The moves are intended to rein in the stations ballooning costs. NASA officials acknowledged recently that the agency may exceed a congressionally imposed $25 billion cost cap on the program by as much as $4 billion.
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"I certainly think weve got to get to the bottom of the overruns," Hutchison told Spacenews.com. "No one wants to have waste in our space programs. But once we know what the cause is I think we must fully fund and keep our commitment to the space station and all of the research that is going on around it.
"I cant possibly imagine cutting back on the progress that were making," Hutchison added. She said she planned to personally express her concern to Bush.
NASAs role in the space station program is managed by Johnson Space Center, Houston.
Other lawmakers voice overrun concerns
One of the stations
most vocal critics, Rep. Tim Roemer (D-Indiana), said lawmakers should be outraged by the estimated overruns.
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"This just continues the trend of the incredible shrinking science program with a hugely proliferating cost overrun," Roemer told Spacenews.com.
"Not only will [the station] end up housing fewer astronauts to do fewer things, to do fewer scientific experiments, they wont have a crew return vehicle," Roemer said.
Other lawmakers involved in space policy supported Bushs proposed budget plan.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-California), chairman of the House Science Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, said he was pleased with the 2-percent budget increase for NASA. However, Rohrabacher expressed concern that the space station cost growth could adversely affect other NASA programs.
"Were going to need more detail on the space station before anyone breathes easier," Rohrabacher said in a statement. "The Science Committee has long held that that the space stations problems must not harm NASAs science, aeronautics or technology programs."
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) applauded the 2-percent budget increase and said it affirms the Bush administrations faith in NASA.
"Its probably a healthy thing that the Bush administration is challenging NASA to make good decisions based on merit and not on politics," said Sessions, whose state is home to NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center.
"From what Im hearing, the Bush administration is saying we want to enhance NASA. To make it better," Sessions told Spacenews.com.
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