Rep. Pete Olson today issued the following statement in response to the 2012 federal budget unveiled by President Obama today. The NASA Agency budget increases funding for climate research and commercial space flight, while cutting funds for human space exploration.
“Plain and simple – this budget is a non-starter. President Obama has once again marginalized America’s preeminence in human space flight, as well as the American taxpayer, for the benefit his climate research programs. This budget ignores the human space flight priorities outlined by Congress last year. We fought this battle last year and won, and I believe we will do so again.
“I have a plan to preserve the human space flight budget by transferring money from NASA’s unneeded climate research programs, while keeping NASA’s overall budget at 2008 levels. Climate research is not a NASA mission and there are plenty of other agencies already doing this work. My plan is a win for America and a win for the taxpayers. I’m working with NASA allies, the House budget and spending committees and the Republican leadership to enact these priorities. This plan will ensure that NASA can achieve the goals set by Congress in a fiscally responsible manner.”
