NASA ADMINISTRATOR THANKS CONGRESS FOR 2010 AUTHORIZATION ACT SUPPORT

NASA seems to be pleased with the recent Congressional vote.
Will have to wait and see what the President does with the approved compromise bill and where NASA goes from here.
- LRK -

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NASA ADMINISTRATOR THANKS CONGRESS FOR 2010 AUTHORIZATION ACT SUPPORT
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/sep/HQ_10-238_Bolden_Auth_Statement.html

Sep. 29, 2010

David Weaver
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
david.s.weaver@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 10-238

NASA ADMINISTRATOR THANKS CONGRESS FOR 2010 AUTHORIZATION ACT SUPPORT

WASHINGTON -- The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden regarding Wednesday's action by the House of Representatives on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Authorization Act of 2010.

"We thank the Congress for their thoughtful deliberations about NASA's future over the past months. Both the House and the Senate provided insight, ideas and direction that were truly exemplary of the democratic process. It is clear that our space program inspires passion and dedication across party lines, and for that we are truly thankful.

"This important vote today in the House of Representatives on a comprehensive NASA authorization charts a vital new future for the course of human space exploration. We are grateful that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 received strong support in the House after its clearance in the Senate, and can now be sent on to the President for his signature.

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At least two are happy.
- LRK -

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Wed, 29 September, 2010
Garver, Bolden Urge Passage of NASA Authorization
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/100929-garver-bolden-nasa-authorization.html

WASHINGTON — After months of bipartisan wrangling on Capitol Hill over the future of NASA’s manned spaceflight program, the agency’s top two officials urged support for the Senate version of a three-year NASA authorization bill headed for a vote in the U.S. House this evening, even as a group of House lawmakers voiced strong opposition to the measure.

“We truly, truly believe that the time has come for us to have some clarifying direction,” NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver said during a House aerospace caucus luncheon here Sept. 29, asserting the Senate measure, S. 3729, incorporates “the very best parts of the administration’s proposals,” including a top-line spending authorization of $19 billion in 2011, a call to increase funding for aeronautics and science, extending the international space station through at least 2020 and a sustained program of exploration beyond
low Earth orbit. “We encourage all of you to support a bold and vibrant future for NASA by supporting the authorization bill.”

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FYI - LRK -

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Bill Summary & Status
111th Congress (2009 - 2010)
S.3729
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:S3729:/

S.3729
Title: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] (introduced 8/5/2010)
Cosponsors (None)
Related Bills: H.R.5781
Latest Major Action: 9/29/2010 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 304 - 118 (Roll no. 561).
Senate Reports: 111-278
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/R?cp111:FLD010:@1%28sr278%29
                           Committee Reports 111th Congress
(2009-2010) Senate Report 111-278
Table of Contents

Beginning
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
BACKGROUND AND NEEDS
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
ESTIMATED COSTS
REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT
NUMBER OF PERSONS COVERED
ECONOMIC IMPACT
PRIVACY
PAPERWORK
CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
TITLE II--POLICY, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES FOR HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT AND EXPLORATION
TITLE III--EXPANSION OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT BEYOND THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AND LOW-EARTH ORBIT
TITLE IV--DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF COMMERCIAL CREW AND CARGO
TRANSPORTATION CAPABILITIES
TITLE V--CONTINUATION, SUPPORT, AND EVOLUTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
TITLE VI--SPACE SHUTTLE RETIREMENT AND TRANSITION
TITLE VII--EARTH SCIENCE
TITLE VIII--SPACE SCIENCE
TITLE IX--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE TECHOLOGY
TITLE X--EDUCATION
TITLE XI--RESCOPING AND REVITALIZING INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITIES
TITLE XII--OTHER MATTERS
VOTES IN COMMITTEE
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

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More filler - pro - con -
- LRK -

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NASA’s Senate Bill passes after dramatic debate and vote in Congress
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/09/nasas-senate-bill-passes-dramatic-debate-vote-congress/
September 30th, 2010 by Chris Bergin

Following a marathon day of debates and the extended wait for a recorded vote, the Senate Bill (S. 3729) has been passed by lawmakers by a ratio of 3 to 1. Modifying the heavily criticised path laid out by President Obama, Congress passed the bill which will allow for the ultimate transition towards commercial access to Low Earth Orbit, in tandem with NASA’s re-focused goals on exploration via a new HLV (Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle).

Senate “Compromise” Bill:

The bill – to authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for fiscal years 2011 through 2013 – provides $58 billion for NASA over that three year period. It was passed by a vote of 304 yeas, versus 118 nays, with 10 non voters.

Once the bill came up for debate late in the day on Wednesday, a string of lawmakers outlined their support for S. 3729, citing the need to protect the workforce from further widescale cuts, through to the more dramatic claims that President Obama was aiming to destroy manned space flight via his FY2011 budget proposal.

Only one voice was heard in opposition, when Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords took a large amount of the debating time to cite her strong opposition to passing the bill – which was expected following her previous stance, and continued calls to reject all bills which threatened to cancel the Constellation Program.

“This is a bad bill, this will do damage to NASA and should be voted down,” noted Rep. Giffords, before moving into a tirade against the content of the bill, claiming the provision for a HLV was for a vehicle that was designed by Senators, not NASA engineers.

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Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
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Congressional Compromise Nears: NASA’s Immediate Future Gains Clarity
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/09/congressional-compromise-nasas-future-clarity/

 September 28th, 2010 by Chris Gebhardt

NASA’s immediate future appears to be gaining some degree of clarity, at least as far as the House of Representatives and Senate are concerned. With the release of a compromise NASA Authorization bill for FY 2011 that aims to mend the differences between the original House and Senate versions of the Authorization Act, the United States Congress appears close to reaching consensus on NASA’s future before the start of the new Fiscal Year in the United States on Friday (October 1).

The Compromise Bill:

Since initially passing different NASA Authorization acts for FY 2011 in August 2010, the House of Representatives and the Senate appeared to be at impasse regarding the future of the premiere space agency.

Since, under U.S. law, both bills required reconciliation into one bill – approved then by the House and Senate – before being sent to the President’s desk for approval or veto, a compromise in the bicameral legislature was finally proposed and submitted for review by the House Committee on Science and Technology.

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FLOOR SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010
http://majorityleader.gov/links_and_resources/whip_resources/dailyleader.cfm?pressReleaseID=4549
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Suspensions (6 Bills)

  1. Senate Amendments to H.R. 946 - Plain Language Act (Rep. Braley
- Oversight and Government Reform)
  2. H.R. 6162 - Coin Modernization, Oversight, and Continuity Act of
2010 (Rep. Watt - Financial Services)
  3. S. 3397 - Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 (Sen.
Klobuchar - Energy and Commerce)
  4. S. 1132 - Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act Improvements Act
of 2010 (Sen. Leahy - Judiciary)
  5. Senate Amendment to H.R. 3219 - Veterans' Insurance and Health
Care Improvements Act (Rep. Filner - Veterans' Affairs)
  6. S. 3729 - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Authorization Act of 2010 (Sen. Rockefeller - Science and Technology)
      http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:S3729:/

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NASA Watch
http://www.nasawatch.com/
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House Passes S. 3729
http://nasawatch.com/archives/2010/09/house-has-s-372.html

 By Keith Cowing on September 29, 2010 11:37 PM    21 Comments

House Floor Schedule for September 29, 2010

"S. 3729 - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (Sen. Rockefeller - Science and Technology)"

Current floor proceedings (live updates)

Keith's note: formal vote under way at 11:35 pm EDT. 289 yea votes
recorded - the bill passes no matter what.

Keith's note: 9:46 pm EDT the House just passed S. 3729 on a voice
vote. Rep. Giffords wants a paper vote.

Keith's note: 9:03 pm EDT the House just began debate on S. 3729

NASA Administrator Calls Congressional Vote an Important Step Forward
in Space Exploration

"We are on the verge of an historic vote in the House of Representatives on a comprehensive NASA authorization bill that is expected to chart the future course of human space flight for years to come. I am hopeful that S. 3729 -- the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010-- will receive strong support in the House and be sent onto the President for his signature." Continue reading House Passes S. 3729.
http://nasawatch.com/archives/2010/09/house-has-s-372.html#more
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK

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