Posey Joins Effort To Revamp Space Program Leadership

By  //  September 21, 2012

Goal Set To Stabliize NASA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Bill Posey of Rockledge has joined five other members of Congress in introducing a bill that would revamp the leadership structure within the space program in the United States.

Representative Bill Posey of Rockledge has joined an effort in Congress to revamp America's space program leadership. (Image courtesy of the Office of Congressman Bill Posey)

Posey joined Reps. John Culberson of Texas, Frank Wolf of Virginia, Pete Olson of Texas, James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin and Lamar Smith of Texas in introducing the Space Leadership Preservation Act on Thursday.

The proposed legislation would change business as usual at NASA and result in a more stable and accountable space program, according to Posey. The bill would create a 10-year term for the NASA Administrator to provide crucial stability of the leadership structure at NASA so that decisions are made based on science and are removed from the politics of changing administrations.

The legislators said that the last 30 years have been marked by canceled programs due to cost-overruns, mismanagement or abrupt program changes at the start of each new administration.

They said that in the past 20 years alone, 27 programs have been cancelled resulting in over $20 billion wasted on uncompleted programs.

The proposed legislation establishes a new Board of Directors to provide a quadrennial review of space programs and a vision for space exploration that will set a tone for NASA’s endeavors to ensure American preeminence in the space industry.

“NASA has suffered from a lack of continuity and long-term vision.” Congressman Bill Posey of Rockledge

“NASA has suffered from a lack of continuity and long-term vision,” Posey said. “Our bill fixes NASA’s systemic problem and enables NASA to operate beyond short-term political agendas. It adds accountability to the agency, and puts an end to the abrupt terminations that have wasted too many limited dollars.

“The ability to commit to longer term projects will provide stability, which benefits our national space program, our national security, and will build the stable workforce that is needed to maintain U.S. Space leadership,” he said.

Posey said that Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, has also offered his support for the legslation.

“America’s Space Program is just that – AMERICA’S Space Program,” Cernan said.  “It has been a bipartisan commitment in the Congress since the days of JFK’s challenge to go to the moon. But, it has lacked long-term stability and focus because of the constantly changing political whims of the Executive Branch of government.  This legislation is critical to providing the much needed continuity for the future of NASA’s far-reaching goals in space.”

Posey said that the legislation also will extend the provision for long term contracting from EELV (Evolvable Expendable Launch Vehicle) to rocket propulsion systems and manned and unmanned space transportation vehicles and payloads, including expendable launch vehicles and related services.