NASA Reauthorization

NASA Reauthorization - As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Columbia Shuttle tragedy, President Bush has announced an ambitious space plan involving a return to the moon as a possible first step on a manned journey to Mars. Reports indicate that the President's plan would focus heavily on manned space exploration, and may cut back on unmanned missions and other scientific activities at NASA. The President is expected to request funding increases of 5 percent (about $800 million at current levels) for the next several years.

Graduate education programs also may be proposed and revitalized as part of this reauthorization. The UH System would be uniquely positioned to take advantage of such programs. Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX), whose district contains the University of Houston-Clear Lake, is expected to become the Ranking Minority Member of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the House Science Committee due to a shake-up caused by the switch of Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX) to the Republican Party. This will give the UH System an opportunity to have its voice heard in the NASA reauthorization process.

NASA is a vital agency to the UH System, the city of Houston, and the nation as a whole. These are turbulent times for NASA, and it is imperative that the UH System, once again in conjunction with the scientific community, make its voice heard in NASA's reauthorization process.