Weldon noted that at the hearing to introduce his proposal Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), who sits on the powerful Rules Committee, said he opposed the amendment because he was 'not convinced' of the need for human space exploration.

Weldon originally introduced the amendment after the Democrats proposed an astounding 40% percent ($2 billion) funding increase for NSF this year alone. The proposed increase was made possible earlier this year when Democrats cut a half-a-billion dollars from NASA funding. NASA and NSF are funded through the same budget account and compete for the same pot of money.

"Democrats are on a glide path to cripple our manned Space program. It's time the space community saw this for what it is: an assault on our commitment to build the Shuttle replacement, return to the moon, and maintain our strategic advantage in space. It's also an assault on the civilian workers and contractors who are about to have their lives disrupted because Democrats can't divert NASA funding fast enough to their other priorities."

Weldon expressed dismay at two Florida Democrats who cast deciding votes in the Rules Committee against the Weldon amendment. "NASA has been a vital component to the entire state of Florida. These two members should have supported this measure. I think they let our state down," said Weldon.

According to Weldon, it's imperative that lawmakers who believe human space flight is important and who come from states with a strong NASA presence -- both Democrats and Republicans -- put their political capital on the line to save NASA funding from the new leadership's chopping block.

Earlier this month, Weldon joined a bipartisan group of 17 lawmakers in calling for a summit with the Bush Administration to discuss the space program's funding shortages. Ironically, seven of the lawmakers who signed that letter had just voted for half-a-billion in cuts to NASA's budget.

related report
Budget Challenges Create Difficult Choices In Nasa'S Space Science Program, Calvert Says

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2007 - Today in a hearing on the fiscal year 2008 budget request, the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics was told by a panel of expert witnesses that there is currently insufficient funding to support the many space science missions at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA) supported a funding increase at NASA to $18.7 Billion, the authorized amount for FY2008, saying, "Everyone in this room understands that severe budget challenges are confronting NASA in its science missions, as well as its manned spaceflight and aeronautics research programs, forcing the agency to remove future budget growth from the science mission directorate in order to address more pressing needs."

Calvert continued, "I don't fault NASA for making the tough choices it did, but it shouldn't be that way. I have stated before, and I'll say it again, that the Administration must provide NASA with realistic budget requests to match resources with program content."

Despite the fact that funding for NASA science missions is at an historically high 32 percent of the agency's overall budget, the pace of growth has declined. This decline has been attributed factors including: unpredictably high mission costs; mission delays from an overly ambitious number of missions, given the available resources; and cost increases associated with management oversight and risk reduction.

Congress has repeatedly called for a more balanced program of science, exploration, and aeronautics at NASA. Speaking to that end, Dr. S. Alan Stern, Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said, "I am committed to implementing this direction and bringing to NASA and the Congress the best possible slate of programs and program success within the significant resources already available... I am an enthusiastic advocate of human exploration and believe that a strong science program associated with this exploration is important to maximizing the benefits to the Nation of such human exploration."

Also testifying at today's hearing was: Dr. Lennard Fisk, Thomas M. Donahue Distinguished University Professor of Space Science at the University of Michigan, and Chair of the Space Studies Board at the National Research Council; Dr. Garth Illingworth, Professor at the University of California Observatories/ Lick Observatory at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Chair of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee; Dr. Daniel Baker, Professor of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences and Director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder; and Dr. Joseph Burns, Irving Porter Church Professor of Engineering and Professor of Astronomy, and Vice Provost of Physical Sciences and Engineering at Cornell University.

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