spacetoday.net: House releases "compromise" version of NASA bill

Posted: Fri, Sep 24, 2010, 7:05 AM ET (1105 GMT)
US Capitol

The House Science and Technology Committee released a revised version Thursday of NASA authorization legislation in an effort to develop a compromise with the version already passed by the Senate. The revised version of HR 5781 includes just over $1.2 billion for commercial crew and cargo development over three years, compared to $450 million in the original bill and $1.6 billion in the Senate bill. The new House bill also calls for the development of a heavy-lift vehicle called the "Space Launch System" similar to the Senate bill, although with somewhat different technical requirements. The bill also calls for an additional shuttle flight in mid-2011 provided NASA determines the flight can be performed safely. House and Senate negotiators have been working to reach a compromise for weeks, although the new House bill is reportedly not an outcome of those negotiations. House leadership has vowed to bring a NASA authorization bill to the floor for a vote before the House adjourns in early October provided a compromise is worked out between the House and Senate versions.