Posted: Thu, Feb 13, 2003, 7:29 AM ET (1229 GMT)
A Congressional conference committee has approved a budget bill that would provide $15.4 billion for NASA in fiscal year 2003, nearly four and a half months after the year began. Negotiators finally approved Wednesday a compromise omnibus budget bill that consolidates 11 separate bills, including the one that funds NASA and other independent agencies. The budget would give NASA just over $15.4 billion in 2003, up from the $15 billion the Bush Administration originally proposed and nearly as high as the $15.47 billion Bush proposed for 2004. The amount is also higher than either the House of Representatives' or the Senate's bills: the House offered $15.3 billion and the Senate $15.2 billion. Details about what was included in the budget were not immediately available, but the budget likely includes funding for programs the House and Senate had added to the President's proposal, notably the New Horizons Pluto mission. The Los Angeles Times reported that $50 million was added for the Columbia investigation. The omnibus budget bill is expected to pass Congress this week and be signed by the President shortly thereafter. Since the 2003 fiscal year started last October 1, NASA and other agencies have been operating on a series of continuing resolutions.

Related Links:

•  L.A. Times article