April 30, 2015

On April 30, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a markup of the NASA Authorization Act for 2016 and 2017 (H.R. 2039). Republican members praised the bill for being fiscally conscious while Democrats derided the bill for being ideologically motivated and a step back for science.

The bill would authorize $4.95 billion for space exploration and $4.95 billion for scientific research and development. The bill increases funding for heliophysics and astrophysics, as well as support for the International Space Station (ISS) and commercial crew program, and fully funds the Space Launch System and Orion missions. The bill would cut authorized funding for the Earth sciences program to $1.5 billion, a 15 percent decrease from FY 2015 enacted levels, which would greatly impact financial support for research universities and development of Earth observing satellites, including Landsat 9.

Democrats discussed the negative impact these cuts would have for flood prediction, severe weather tracking and prediction, wildfire response, earthquake response, and water management for manufacturing and agriculture. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) stated that the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Geological Society of America (GSA), the American Geophysical Union (AGU), and others have written letters opposing the bill. Republicans maintained that other agencies should be responsible for Earth science instead of NASA and singled out the USDA and Forest Service as potential alternatives. Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) stated that 12 federal agencies already study climate and that NASA should focus on space travel. Rep. Johnson pointed out Republicans’ opposition to climate science research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and questioned whether Earth science program cuts were related. Democratic amendments to remove the cuts and fully fund Earth sciences were rejected in a voice vote.

The bill passed out of committee by a party line vote of 19-15. It awaits consideration on the House floor.