The Chairman of the House Science Committee has told Spacecast legislation funding the nation's civil space agency, awaiting action in the Senate, now has much brighter prospects as a result of a key Senator's decision made last week . Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI) announced he has been told by Senate Science Committee Chair Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) that McCain will support a two-year funding request for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), ending a possible major bottleneck blocking financing for the American space program that is to begin in October. Sensenbrenner's House committee had passed the bill earlier this spring, but its prospects looked dim in the Senate due to the two year funding provision. Senators have often been reluctant to approve more than a year's spending at a time, believing that the year-to-year plan gave them more "control" over programs.
McCain reportedly said that he wants NASA to get the unusual additional year's budget approval in order to help stabilize key space priorities, including a reusable rocket research program and the International Space Station. McCain's decision might mean the Senate will act on the NASA bill before leaving for summer recess.
