Letter to Barack Obama, President of the United States - Preserve NASA's Constellation Funding

Letter

Colorado Delegation Asks President to Preserve NASA's Constellation Funding

Today, U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) led a bipartisan group of Colorado's Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Obama requesting him to keep Colorado aerospace jobs intact by continuing to fund NASA's Constellation project in the FY 2011 Budget. Constellation is the next generation human spaceflight project replacing the shuttle program that retires this year.

Delegation Members wrote:

"As you know, NASA is supported by skilled civil servant and private contractor workers across the country. Colorado is proud of its robust aerospace industry, ranking third in the nation in private aerospace employment. Over 300 Colorado aerospace companies employ thousands of workers in our state. In Fiscal Year 2008, over $780 million was obligated to the Colorado aerospace industry, in addition to $85 million going to educational institutions. Constellation's Orion crew exploration vehicle alone contributes an estimated 1,000 high tech and high paying jobs to Colorado, supporting 22 companies across the state. The Constellation program is a critical engine of technological innovation, job creation, and economic growth especially during this economic downturn."

Full Text of Letter:

President Barack Obama:

As members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation we are strongly committed to supporting the success of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and are concerned with changes in the direction of the agency reflected in your administration's Fiscal Year 2011 Budget. In particular we support continued funding for Constellation, the next generation in human spaceflight as the Shuttle program is retired this year. Our nation - and Colorado in particular - has much at stake in deciding the future of our space program.

As you know, NASA is supported by skilled civil servant and private contractor workers across the country. Colorado is proud of its robust aerospace industry, ranking third in the nation in private aerospace employment. Over 300 Colorado aerospace companies employ thousands of workers in our state. In Fiscal Year 2008, over $780 million was obligated to the Colorado aerospace industry, in addition to $85 million going to educational institutions. Constellation's Orion crew exploration vehicle alone contributes an estimated 1,000 high tech and high paying jobs to Colorado, supporting 22 companies across the state. The Constellation program is a critical engine of technological innovation, job creation, and economic growth especially during this economic downturn.

Significant investment has been made by the public and private sector in Constellation's Orion and Ares programs: innovative technologies have been developed and facilities have been built and upgraded. Major steps have been taken to maintain our ability to launch astronauts into space and we believe in pursuing this goal. Human spaceflight is a source of national pride, it serves our national security, and promises advances in energy technology. While we are encouraged by the FY11 net increase in NASA funding with a new focus on building international partnerships and science education, we believe the Constellation program should remain a national priority.

As the budget process moves forward, we remain committed to working with your administration and with appropriators to secure a safe and robust Constellation space exploration program that continues U.S. leadership in space.

Sincerely,

Ed Perlmutter
Member of Congress

Doug Lamborn
Member of Congress

Betsy Markey
Member of Congress

Mike Coffman
Member of Congress