Congressmen Up the Ante in Fight Against the Destruction of Manned Space Flight

On March 12, sixteen Members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that a study be done, within 60 days, to determine whether the actions being taken by NASA, under President Obama's proposed space policy, break the law. The letter was initiated by Rep. Robert Aderholt, (R-AL), who serves on the House Appropriations Committee. Recall that at the end of February, 28 Members had sent a letter to NASA head Charlie Bolden, accusing the agency of the same charges. Bolden's letter of reply, claiming that there was no violation of the law, was considered unsatisfactory by the Representatives.

They now want a bipartisan, unbiased, third opinion. Normally, when Congressmen request a GAO study, that Office is given 100-120 days to produce it. The 60-day request is to have the information quickly, as Congress holds hearings and makes decisions on NASA's fiscal year 2011 budget.

The letter outlines three activities that may violate the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2009, which the President signed at the end of last year. That law states that Constellation cannot not be terminated without the explicit approval of the Congress. Prohibited actions include the cancellation, suspension, or slowing down of Constellation contracts. In addition to a query on contracts that have been canceled, suspended, or slowed, which they say effectively means cancellation, the lawmakers state that it is the Congress, and not NASA, which decides how monies will be spent, and they want to know if the Impoundment Act is being violated, through the withholding of funds. Third, NASA seems to be using quite a few employees to work on the new plans, the letter states.... Senior-level program personnel seem to be spending all of their days on the new plans instead of on the Constellation programs, projects, and activities which are their jobs, as proscribed by law. If the GAO finds that NASA is in violation of the law, these planning activities must stop immediately, the letter states.

Yesterday, the two Senators from the State of Utah joined their House colleagues in a letter to President Obama urging him not to cancel Constellation, because of the impact it will have on defense programs, jobs, and the industrial base. Sen. Bob Bennett stated that, in addition to savaging America's human space exploration, the President's decision to cut these programs is a perfect example of what would happen if Congress were to give up its constitutional authority to appropriate federal funds. He adds that if the President does not reinstate the program, he will work to secure congressionally directed funds for the program.