Note: Only forum leaders may delete posts.
*HTML is ON *UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend
Smilies Legend
The last 30 years have been marked by canceled programs due to cost-overruns, mismanagement or abrupt program changes at the start of each new administration. In the past 20 years alone, 27 programs have been cancelled resulting in over $20 billion wasted on uncompleted programs. This legislation establishes a new Board of Directors to provide a quadrennial review of space programs and a vision for space exploration that will set a tone for NASA's endeavors to ensure American preeminence in the space industry. The Space Leadership Act will: [list][*]Create a Board of Directors chosen by the administration, House, and Senate, made up of former astronauts and eminent scientists responsible for: [*]Preparing a budget submission approved by the Administrator and submitted CONCURRENTLY to House and Senate Appropriations and the president. [*]Recommending three candidates for NASA Administrator, Deputy Administrator and CFO; the president is encouraged to select one of the above, who would then be approved by the Senate. [*]Preparing a quadrennial review of space programs and other reports.[/list] [*]Board terms would change to three, three-year terms. (Currently, two, six-year terms) [*]It will also include a clause that states that no board member can work for a company which has business with NASA. [*]The Administrator would be selected for a 10-year term. [*]This mirrors the FBI directors 10-year term. [*]The board will be allowed to remove the NASA Administrator for cause. [*]The legislation extends the provision for long term contracting from EELV (Evolvable Expendable Launch Vehicle) to rocket propulsion systems and manned and unmanned space transportation vehicles and payloads, including expendable launch vehicles, and related services. "We have filed this bill today to make NASA less political and more professional by modeling their internal leadership after the FBI and the National Science Foundation," said Rep. Culberson, member of the Commerce-Justice-Science Subcommittee which funds NASA. "We also plan to make NASA funding more stable and predictable by enabling them to design and build new rockets and new spacecraft in the same way that the Navy designs and builds new submarines and ships. These reforms will save money and help their budget go farther in tough times, but more importantly, we hope to restore the NASA we knew when we were young and America landed the first man on the moon. Neil Armstrong's death has renewed our determination to preserve America's leadership in space exploration. We are confident these reforms will restore the NASA we have known, loved and admired and help guarantee that America continues to lead the world in space exploration in the 21st Century." Captain Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, also offered his support. "America's Space Program is just that - AMERICA'S Space Program," said Captain Cernan. "It has been a bi-partisan commitment in the Congress since the days of JFK's challenge to go to the moon. But, it has lacked long-term stability and focus because of the constantly changing political whims of the Executive Branch of government. This legislation is critical to providing the much needed continuity for the future of NASA's far-reaching goals in space."
Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts
Copyright 1999-2024 collectSPACE. All rights reserved.