Senate
Congress overrides Trump’s veto and passes the National Defense Authorization Act
The U.S. Senate voted 81-13 on Jan. 1 to override President Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.
Senate passes NASA authorization act
The Senate unanimously approved a NASA authorization bill Dec. 18, a largely symbolic move intended to set up work on a new version of the legislation next year.
Senate passes defense bill, sets up showdown with Trump
The Senate on Dec. 11 voted 84-13 to pass the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, adopting the compromise defense policy bill by a large enough margin to override a presidential veto.
White House asks Congress to remove Europa Clipper SLS requirement
The White House is asking Congress to remove language from an appropriations bill that would direct NASA to launch the Europa Clipper mission on the Space Launch System as a long-running dispute on how to launch the mission nears its conclusion.
Senate committee advances NASA CFO nomination
The Senate Commerce Committee voted Dec. 2 to advance the nomination of Greg Autry to be NASA’s chief financial officer, a position that he may only fill for several weeks.
Space traffic management bill clears Senate committee
A Senate committee approved a bill Nov. 18 that gives the Commerce Department authority for civil space traffic management (STM), but it still faces significant obstacles to win passage in Congress this year.
Horn eyes space role in Biden administration
The outgoing chair of the House space subcommittee says she would be interested in taking a position in the incoming Biden administration involving space, including at NASA.
Senate bill offers NASA only a fraction of requested lunar lander funding
A Senate appropriations bill would provide NASA with only a small fraction of the funding it requested for lunar lander development, putting any chance of returning humans to the moon by 2024 in jeopardy.
Senate defense appropriators take issue with agencies that buy launch services directly from providers
Senate defense appropriators criticized the practice by some agencies of procuring launch services directly from commercial providers.
Key senator raises doubts about 2024 human lunar return
A key senator says she will continue to push for passage during a lame-duck session of a NASA authorization bill that supports the Artemis lunar exploration program, but not necessarily the agency’s goal of return humans to the moon by 2024.
Former astronaut Mark Kelly wins Senate race in Arizona
Former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly won his race for the U.S. Senate in Arizona Nov. 3 while two members of Congress involved in space issues lost their bids for reelection.
Senate bill would assign space traffic management work to Commerce Department
The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee introduced a bill Oct. 21 to formally give the Commerce Department space traffic management (STM) responsibilities, but the funding required to carry out that work remains uncertain.
Bridenstine asks Senate appropriators for full funding for Artemis
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine urged Senate appropriators to provide full funding of Artemis as some members questioned the agency’s emphasis on its lunar exploration program.
Space Force gets political boost from Senate supporters
Sen. Cramer: The Space Force caucus will provide an avenue to craft bipartisan legislative ideas.
Senate pandemic relief bill offers $1.5 billion for NASA
A coronavirus pandemic spending package introduced in the Senate this week would provide $1.5 billion in supplemental funding for NASA, although agency leadership says the exact amount of money the agency needs to cover its costs remains to be determined.
