

The House of Representatives passed the FY2016 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) appropriations bill (H.R. 2578) on June 3, 2015. President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the measure, which includes funding for NASA and NOAA.

The highlights involving NASA’s budget include:

$3.4 billion for Space Launch System, Orion and related ground systems, an increase of $546 million over the President’s request;

$1 billion for Commercial Crew, a reduction of $243.8 million from the request;

$625 million for space technology, a reduction of $100 million.

$1.56 billion for planetary exploration, an increase of $196 million;

$1.68 billion for Earth science, a reduction of $264 million;

$140 million to begin work on the Jupiter Europa Clipper mission;

$19 million to maintain operations of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and $13.7 million for the Mars Opportunity Rover;

a requirement to use the Space Launch System for the Jupiter Europa mission; and,

a stipulation that $25 million of the space technology budget “shall be for icy satellites surface technology and test beds.”

The table below has the full details.

NASA FY 2016 BUDGET

(In Millions of Dollars)

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION REQUEST

HOUSE APPROVED BUDGET

DIFFERENCE

Science $5,288.6 $5,237.5 -$51.1 Earth Science

$1,947.3 $1,682.9 -$264.2 Planetary Sciences $1,361.2 $1,557.0 $195.8 Astrophysics $709.1 $735.6 $26.5 James Webb Space Telescope

$620.0 $620.0 $0.0 Heliophysics $651.0 $642.0 -$9.0 Jupiter Europa Clipper $30.0 $140.0 $110.0 Space Exploration $4,505.9 $4,759.3 $253.4 Exploration Systems Development

$2,862.9 $3,409.3 $546.4 Space Launch System

$1,356.5 $1,850.0 $493.5 Orion

$1,096.3 $1,096.3 $0.0 Exploration Ground Systems

$410.1 $410.0 -$0.1 Program Integration

$53.0 $53.0 Commercial Spaceflight $1,243.8 $1,000.0 -$243.0 Research & Development $399.2 $350.0 -$49.2 Space Operations $4,003.7 $3,957.3

-$46.4 International Space Station $3,106.6 $3,075.6 -$31.0 Space & Flight Support

$898.1 $881.7 -$16.4 Space Technology $724.8 $625.0

-$99.8 Aeronautics $571.4 $600.0

$28.6 Education $88.9 $119.0

$30.1 Safety, Security and Mission Services $2,843.1 $2,768.6

-$74.5 Construction & Environmental Compliance & Restoration $465.3 $425.0

-$40.3 Inspector General $37.4 $37.4

$0.0 TOTALS: $18,529.1 $18,529.1 $0.0

The Obama Administration has issued a seven-page long veto threat for the legislation, with which it has many objections. The administration’s concerns about NASA funding are show below.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Commercial Crew Program. The Administration is disappointed that the Committee underfunded NASA’s Commercial Crew program by $243 million. This would delay the date for launching U.S. astronauts to the space station with U.S. rockets and force a continued reliance on Russian capabilities, which currently require payments to Russia of approximately $500 million per year. Space Technology. The Administration urges the Congress to fully fund the FY 2016 Budget request for NASA Space Technology. Compared to the request, the bill reduces funding for these investments by $100 million, or 14 percent, delaying development of a cutting-edge laser

communication system; advanced, high power solar electric propulsion; and other space

technology demonstrations, slowing progress on the journey to Mars, and impacting the

international competitiveness of the U.S. commercial space industry. Earth Science Missions. The Administration opposes the bill’s reductions of Earth Science by more than $200 million, jeopardizing missions that are helping us respond to earthquakes, droughts, and severe weather events and understand how the climate is changing. The bill also eliminates the launch of a key instrument used by western States to manage water supplies—while at the same time adding $500 million above the requested level for the Space Launch

System rocket. Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act). The Administration urges the Congress to fully fund the FY 2016 Budget request for NASA and the National Science Foundation to implement the DATA Act. This funding will support the agencies’ efforts to provide more transparent Federal spending data, such as updating information technology systems, changing business processes, and employing a uniform procurement instrument identifier.

The Administration also expressed the following concerns about NOAA’s budget.