SPACE.com -- Gore Supports NASA

This Week's Budget Cuts Were A Long Time Coming

NASA Supporters In Congress Quietly Mobilizing


	Gore Supports NASA By Frank Sietzen, Jr. Washington Bureau Chief posted: 04:13 pm ET 28 July 1999

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WASHINGTON The NASA budget cuts approved by a House panel Monday would require the space agency to shut down two space centers, Vice President Al Gore said Wednesday.

Speaking at a Houston reception for the returning crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia, Gore said that the cuts amounted to 11 percent of the agencys annual budgets and made for bad policy.

"While these astronauts were in orbit, some in the Congress made what I regard as a very unwise decision," Gore said, "by slashing the NASA budget by 11 percent." Gore said that in addition to the closures, sharp cutbacks would be imposed on future space missions.

"I think that is the wrong approach," Gore told the audience at NASAs Johnson Space Center. "I want you to know that those of us that support NASA are going to fight against what the majority in Congress did to NASAs budget," he added.

Gore had praise for the Shuttle astronauts and for the achievements of the space agency, noting upcoming robotic missions to Mars. "Im committed to our space program," Gore said.

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