Rep. Calvert Commends Senate for Additional Billion for NASA

WASHINGTON, DC. October 5, 2007 – Today Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA), former Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate’s vote last night in favor of the Mikulski-Hutchinson amendment to add $1 billion to NASA’s budget.

“Since the Columbia accident in 2003, NASA has struggled to fund its many priorities, with the addition of costs associated with returning the space shuttle fleet to service and the development of the its replacement system, the Orion crew vehicle and Ares launch vehicles.

“The additional one billion provided by the Senate would allow the agency to meet it commitments under its significant portfolio of programs and shorten the current five year gap between when the shuttle retires in 2010 and the launch of the new system. Without these additional funds the U.S. may cede our leadership position to other countries such as China. I commend the U.S. Senate for its forward-thinking vote and urge the conferees to maintain this funding for NASA, an organization that has contributed countless technological advancements to our country and the world.”