Congresswoman Kosmas’ Statement on NASA Budget Details and Constellation Review

After the Administration released details on NASA’s budget and Constellation review, Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24) issued the following statement:

“The Administration has made a commitment to flying the scheduled Shuttle missions without a hard deadline, an important step towards ensuring safety and protecting Space Coast jobs. However, based on the history of the Shuttle program, fulfilling this commitment will likely require additional funds for FY 2011. While NASA’s budget does not take this into account, we were successful in including additional funds in the Congressional budget and I will keep working to provide the funding and flexibility needed to fly the Shuttle past 2010 if necessary.

“I appreciate the need to fully evaluate the status of our human spaceflight programs, but we don’t need a review to know that NASA’s budget as it stands does not do enough to minimize the spaceflight gap. The Administration has assured me that the budget will be reevaluated pending the outcome of the review, but jobs are on the line and time is of the essence. The review must focus on minimizing the gap and should be completed as quickly as possible.

“Our human spaceflight program is not only critical for creating jobs; it also advances science to address important issues facing our nation – from alternative energy to health care to national security. Congress has the ability to directly increase funding for human spaceflight and I will continue to fight at every opportunity to ensure that jobs are protected and that America remains the world leader in space, science and technology.”