White House Opposes NASA Authorization Act of 2008

Yesterday, the Office of Management and Budget released a "Statement of Administration Policy" which announced that the Bush Administration was opposing House Resolution 6063, the NASA Authorization Act of 2008. This piece of legislation is expected to be voted on today.

The Houston Chronicle has run an informative article on the statement.

According to the statement, the primary reason the Bush administration is opposing the bill is because it mandates additional Shuttle flights to the International Space Station, including one to install the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. The administration is concerned that this will delay the scheduled 2010 retirement of the Shuttle and that the costs associated with it will delay the development of the Orion spacecraft and Ares rocket that will replace it.

A few other items in the bill worry the administration, including the additional funding for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Systems (COTS) program designed to help develop crew transportation. Furthermore, the administration opposes the provisions in the bill that call for continued American involvement with the International Space Station after 2016. The policy statement also raises concerns that the requirement of NASA to initiate discussions with foreign space agencies on certain issues is an infringement on the Executive Branch's authority to conduct foreign affairs.

The policy statement does not directly raise the possibility of a veto (although the Houston Chronicle piece suggests that a veto threat is implied) and expresses a desire to work with Congress to obtain a more satisfactory bill. However, the statement may result in fireworks during the floor debate on the bill, which is expected today.