The Orlando Sentinel’s Mark Mathews reports in,LeMieux moves against Obama NASA plan, of Florida Senator LeMieux’s effort to amend the FAA funding bill with language that affirms the Shelby rule, which was inserted in the FY 2010 Omnibus Spending Bill and stated,
“Human Spaceflight: In October 2009, the Review of U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee (The Augustine Commission) reported its findings on NASA’s human space flight program. The Augustine Commission raised several issues regarding the current program and budget profile that will require thoughtful consideration by the Administration. In the absence of a bona fide proposal from the Administration on the future of U.S. human spaceflight activities and investments, the bill provides the budget request of $3.1 billion for activities to support human spaceflight in fiscal year 2010; however, the bill requires that any program termination or elimination or the creation of any new program, project or activity not contemplated in the budget request must be approved in subsequent appropriations Acts.”
There are growing concerns within Congress that, despite NASA Administrator Bolden’s claims to the contrary, NASA’s leadership is moving full-speed to terminate Constellation before Congress has held even one vote.