FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2010

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) today voted against the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010, S. 3729.  As the Vice Chair for the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, she joined Subcommittee Chairwoman Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) in opposition due to severe flaws in the legislation. The authorization cuts STEM education and minority education funding to minority serving higher education institutions for 21st Century research and sends billions of dollars to commercial cargo companies at the expense of NASA’s other important science, aeronautics, and technology programs.  Nonetheless, the bill passed the House with a vote of 304-118. 

“The future of NASA is critically important to me,” said Congresswoman Edwards.  “The United States has always been a global leader in spaceflight and exploration, and this bill jeopardizes seriously our ability to continue that leadership in this Century. As the Representative for so many workers and contractors at Goddard Space Flight Center and the Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, I understand our responsibility to provide NASA with a clear direction and the funding necessary to achieve its missions. Unfortunately, this legislation fails to do that and falls well short of the goals enumerated in the bill passed out of the Science and Technology Committee, leaving out critical STEM and MUREP funding to prepare all our children to be the next great leaders in the earth sciences and space exploration.

“It is important to remember that funding for NASA’s workforce is not dependent on this authorization but can be maintained through the Continuing Resolution that we passed in this late hour. I remain committed to ensuring the protection of our workers at Goddard and other institutions around the country while maintaining NASA’s history as the global leader in innovation and the sciences. I pledge to continue working with my colleagues to bring a comprehensive FY 2011 NASA Appropriation to the floor with the open and honest debate it deserves.”

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