Nelson: early commercial crew downselect would be “silliness”

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) appears to side with the administration regarding when NASA should select a commercial crew provider. Nelson told Florida Today he opposed language in the report accompanying the CJS appropriations bill that would direct NASA to make an immediate downselection to one or, at most, two companies. “Why should we not have competition for commercial crew and bring down the cost?” Nelson asked. He’s also quoted in the article as calling the House plan “silliness” and “anti-competitive.” The Senate version of the same appropriations bill, yet to be considered by the full Senate, does not contain similar provisions; Nelson said that Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), who chairs the relevant appropriations subcommittee, “knows the situation” and would fight to block adoption of the House language when the two versions are eventually reconciled in conference.