Congressman Kucinich's most impressive achievement was leading a bipartisan effort to prevent severe cuts on NASA's FY 2000 budget, and additional program funds for aeropropulsion, aircraft noise reduction, and other aeronautics-related research. The promising budget news follows the Congressman's earlier success of early 1999 that secured a commitment that NASA Glenn would suffer no net loss of full-time employees despite the elimination of the key aeropropulsion High Speed Research program in which the Center was a prime participant. Congressman Kucinich joined twenty of his congressional colleagues in writing a letter to President Clinton opposing NASA funding cuts contained in the VA/HUD and Independent Agencies appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2000. The signers of the letter request that the President "veto the bill based on its drastic cuts, particularly the cuts in NASA funding which directly affect our constituents." Congressional concerns over NASA funding began with the House VA/HUD subcommittee's recommendation of a $1.3 billion cut to NASA funding. The cut represented a 10 percent decrease in the agency's total funding. While the House Appropriations Committee restored $400 million to the NASA budget, concerns remain as to the implications of reduced funding on NASA centers, projects, and jobs. NASA Glenn will receive an increase of $20 million for the Ultra Efficient Engine Technology research program, for a total of $70 million in annual research spending; a total of $20 million is allocated for new aircraft noise reduction program, for which NASA Glenn could share responsibility with the NASA Langley Virginia facility; and an additional allocation of $10 million for the Trailblazer program, for which NASA Glenn is the lead research facility.