Aderholt Authors Bill That Would Halt Space Industry Job Losses

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ADERHOLT AUTHORS BILL TO HALT SPACE INDUSTRY JOB LOSSES

Aderholt, “NASA is putting jobs in jeopardy because of a drastic proposal that isn’t even actual law.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) today is introducing a bill that would force NASA to stop the suspension or expiration of Constellation contracts until Congress votes on the President’s proposal to cancel the Constellation program. The “Protecting Human Space Flight Act of 2010” would direct the NASA Administrator to not terminate contracts for the Constellation program, but rather force NASA to use FY2010 appropriated funds for what it was intended to do, which includes carrying out the Constellation program contracts and necessary support activities. The bill does not take any congressional action on FY2011 space policy or funding.

“NASA is putting jobs in jeopardy because of a drastic proposal that isn’t even actual law. This plan put forth by the President’s Administration is simply that – a plan, and NASA should not be assuming that this plan will be approved by Congress and signed into law.”

“Since February, I have fought the President’s proposal to cancel Constellation. This proposal by the Administration will forfeit America’s leadership in space and it will cut thousands of jobs across north Alabama and the nation. During the last month, contractors, under intense pressure from NASA regarding contract termination liability, have already begun laying off workers and canceling subcontracts, despite the fact that Congress has not approved the President’s proposal. That’s why the Protecting Human Space Flight Act of 2010 is necessary at this time. If Congress rejects the President’s proposal later this year and directs NASA to continue Constellation, it will be very difficult to reassemble the lost jobs and scaled down contract work.”

The original co-sponsors of this bill, so far, are Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX), who is the Ranking Member of the Committee on Science and Technology, Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL), Rep. Bobby Bright (D-AL), Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN), Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX), Rep. Jo Bonner (R-AL), Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH), Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT), Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO), Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), among others.

“There is a bipartisan group of members of Congress who soundly reject the President’s proposal to kill the Constellation program. I hope this bill sends the message to the rest of the House or Representatives and the Administration that NASA must wait for Congress to act on its proposal and that our nation needs to make a commitment to properly fund the Constellation program to save jobs and make sure that America remains the leader in space.”

In March, Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) led several lawmakers in requesting that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigate whether NASA’s actions regarding the Constellation program, as well as the extent to which it is working on a new, unauthorized plan, violates law. GAO’s first reply of a 2-part response confirmed that, even though NASA hadn’t violated law by its planning activities, its employees had devoted a significant amount of time, roughly 13,000 staff hours of high-level employees, on a plan which Congress has not approved yet.

GAO’s stern response was a reminder to NASA that its planning activities should not materialize into the creation or initiation of a new program, activity or project before Congress approves it. Within the next 45 days, GAO will complete phase 2 of its report, investigating whether NASA is improperly withholding funds (violating the Impoundment and Control Act), and improperly applying the Anti-Deficiency Act as a means of chilling progress on Constellation work.

On February 1, 2010, the Administration announced its FY2011 Budget, which proposes to eliminate the NASA Constellation program. Since that time, NASA has cancelled or put on hold parts of numerous contracts which were a part of the regular, FY10 work for the Constellation program, despite the fact that Congress must first approve its termination before it becomes final policy.

According to the FY2010 “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2009” (H.R.3288), which passed the House on December 10th, the Senate on December 14th, and signed into law on December 16, 2009, NASA cannot terminate the current Constellation program, without Congress Congressional approval.

Since the announcement of the President’s proposal to end human space flight, Congressman Aderholt has worked with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to stop the plan and hold the Administration accountable to its activities relating to NASA and any policy change.

On Tuesday, March 23rd, Congressman Aderholt questioned NASA Administrator Charles Bolden about the President’s decision to end the Constellation program, during a Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee hearing in Washington. Congressman Aderholt specifically questioned Mr. Bolden about the conflicting operation cost numbers that the Administration bases their decision on.

On Wednesday, February 24th, Congressman Aderholt pressed President Obama’s top science and technology advisor, Dr. John P. Holdren, during an Appropriations subcommittee, on the Administration’s plan to end Constellation.

Aderholt serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, as a member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee, which is responsible for funding NASA.

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