Posted: Wed, Jun 10, 2009, 7:45 AM ET (1145 GMT)
The House Appropriations Committee approved a 2010 spending bill Tuesday that maintains a large cut in NASA's exploration budget made by a subcommittee last week. The committee's Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill includes $18.2 billion for NASA, the same amount a subcommittee approved in a markup last week. That amount is above the $17.8 billion NASA received in 2009 but below the White House request for $18.7 billion, and includes a $670 million cut in exploration. That cut was previously explained to be a "timeout" until a blue-ribbon panel completes a review of NASA's human spaceflight plans later this summer. Two members of Congress who represent Florida's Space Coast region has asked in a letter to the committee's leadership Monday that the money be restored. The full House of Representatives is scheduled to take up the spending bill next Tuesday.

Related Links:

•  Florida Today article
•  House Appropriations Committee press release