Legislative Update

Save Human Space Exploration! - April 2010

The President’s 2011 proposed budget eliminated NASA’s human space exploration program. Americans must tell their congressional representatives that abandoning human space exploration is unacceptable.

Why it Matters:

National Leadership – Human spaceflight is fundamental to America’s continued leadership in the world.

Quality of Life – Human space exploration drives technology to enhance quality of life. NASA technology is used to diagnose cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis, among many other things. It is also found in many items we take for granted such as insulation, cordless tools and GPS/Education – Human space exploration inspires young people to pursue careers in math and science, critical skills for the 21st Century economy. Thirty-five percent of the engineers working on the Orion Crew Capsule are younger than 35.

Jobs – Tens of thousands of high-tech jobs would be lost nationwide.

Financial Impact – Without NASA’s human spaceflight program, the US would have to pay Russia to transport American crew and cargo to the International Space Station at a minimum cost of $50 million an astronaut. America should support the commercial space industry, but not at the expense of human space exploration. It will take years for private industry to catch up to the level of competence at NASA today.

Go to www.GoBoldlyNASA.org to voice your support of NASA’s human spaceflight program to your congressional representatives. Forward the link to your friends and family, especially those in states that do not have NASA centers. It will take an act of Congress to keep the program going, but together we can make a difference!

Patience Myers

Legislative Chair

Let's Stop the Budget Busting Health Care Reform Bill - March 2009

If not, then we need to act now. The following Congressmen have been identified as Democrats who might be persuaded to vote NO when the Health Care Reform Bill comes to them for a vote. Please phone them. There will be no point in complaining about the health care package we will be receiving if we have not done everything in our power to prevent this Bill from passing.

When you phone ask the person answering your call to please add this call to the number they are keeping counting AGAINST the Health Care Reform Bill. If they ask if you are in their district, be honest and say: "No, I am an American citizen and this bill is not limited to the constituents in your district. This bill will affect every hard working American.

Be courteous, but firm. Make sure they count your call. Thank them for accepting your call.

Patience Myers

Legislation Chair

America Cannot Afford to Abandon Human Spaceflight - March 2010

The very real possibility exists that within the next two decades, or less, the Russians, Indians or Chinese will be smiling down at Earth from their lunar outpost while aggressively forging a path to Mars and beyond. America's complacency about its current leadership role in space exploration has laid the groundwork for this to happen. The time to sit up and take notice is now, not after these other countries capture the next high ground.

When the presidential administration released its 2011 budget on February 1, 2010, funding for NASA's Constellation Program was nowhere to be found. Constellation is America's human spaceflight program which succeeds the retirement of the aging space shuttle orbiters later this year.

What Can We Do??? FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!!!

Attached is a list of Democrats on the Congressional Appropriations Committee. We, the people, must send a clear message to Congress, especially to these Democrats. Call each Congressman on this list. Ask the person answering the call to please add you to the number of persons calling to reinstate the Constellation Program. If they ask if you are in their district, be honest and say "No, I am an American citizen and this bill will affect the security and the future of every American, besides adding thousands to the unemployment rolls." Please note that there are two Congressmen from Texas on this list. Be sure to phone their offices.

The Future of NASA - February 2010

On Sunday, February 14, 2010, the Houston Chronicle published a letter from Chris Kraft, Jr., former Director of JSC and Tom Moses, former NASA Program Director. Since their words are far better than mine, here is the letter: "President Barack Obama's 2011 NASA budget puts the U.S. leadership in space at risk. It will have just the opposite results of President Kennedy's space initiatives. Under President Kennedy, the U.S. developed technologies and capabilities that benefit every human in the U.S. every day, e.g., weather, navigation and communication satellites. The lunar exploration program with astronauts and robots was not the sole reason for these capabilities but was the spark plug. The President's proposed budget cancels the Constellation program - the follow-on to the lunar program which would develop the technologies and systems to explore the moon and Mars. We were not smart enough to realize the benefits from the Kennedy initiatives, and we are not smart enough to envision the new benefits. To cancel the Constellation program, which is making good progress, and focus on climate change, developing an undefined new rocket, and relying on the Russians and concepts by the private sector for human space transportation does not make sense. NASA should be allowed to continue with the Constellation program and should encourage and enable the private sector to provide transportation services in parallel with the government systems." Those of us who live in the Clear Lake area are painfully aware of the potential consequences to our community of the cancellation of the Constellation program. Our freshman Texas Congressman, Pete Olson, is leading the fight to save the Constellation program, but we must help him any way possible. Congressman Olson has written a letter to NASA Director Charles Bolden, a letter that has been signed by 26 of his colleagues, including Democrats from Texas, Florida and Alabama, the states most affected by the cancellation of the Constellation program. Please go to Congressman Olson's website at olson.house.gov to read this letter. If you want to fight to save the Constellation program, write or phone the Congressmen who signed this letter, along with Senators Richard Shelby, Republican from Alabama (shelby.senate.gov or 202-224-5744) and Senator Bill Nelson, Democrat from Florida (billnelson.senate.gov or 202-224-5274), Senators representing states with NASA space flight centers. Congressman Olson so aptly stated: "We need to take this fight national to make sure the American people understand that we are giving up our leadership in human space flight."

Patience Myers

Legislative Chair

What Does the Space Program mean to the Greater Clear Lake Area? - March 2010

Per the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership:

• Human Spaceflight is fundamental to American’s future leadership in the world, as well as her security.

• Human space exploration inspires future generations. 35% of the engineers working on the Orion Crew Capsule are young professionals under the age of 35.

• The loss of the Constellation Program will mean 4,000 – 7,000 skilled engineers and scientists locally.

• We need to build on investments already made, not abandon them.

• The right decision was made to extend the International Space Station, but with no means to get crew and cargo to it, we will have to pay the Russians whatever they ask.

• We need to support the commercial spaceflight industry, but not at the expense of human spaceflight. It will take years for commercial industry to get up to speed.

• Human space exploration drives technology that enhances the quality of life breakthroughs that have advanced medical care, detection and prevention: related to cancer, heart, osteoporosis, fetal monitors and many others.

• There are currently 18,294 direct aerospace employees.

• JSC obligates $533 million across Texas to small, women-and minority-owned businesses.

• Total number of jobs attributable to JSC locally 31,497.

• If JSC loses 4,000 direct jobs, the Clear Lake area will lose an additional 2,315, totaling 6,315. The loss of income and expenditures locally would total $567,470,263.

• If JSC loses 4,000 direct jobs, the Clear Lake area will lose an additional 2,315, totaling 6,315. The loss of income and expenditures locally would total $567,470,263.

• If JSC loses 7,000 direct jobs, the Clear Lake area will lose an additional 4,052, totaling 11,052.

• The loss of income and expenditures locally would total $993,072,960 – almost $1 billion.