Posted: Tue, Jul 31, 2001, 11:00 AM ET (1500 GMT)
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a budget bill late Monday that provides $14.95 billion for NASA next year. The House passed HR 2620, an appropriations bill for the Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Housing & Urban Development (HUD) as well as NASA and other independent agencies, by a 336-89 margin shortly after midnight Monday. The NASA portions of the bill are effectively the same ones that were approved by the House Appropriations Committee and its VA-HUD subcommittee earlier in the month. The only major attempt to change the NASA portions of the bill by the full house came Monday evening when long-time space station opponent Rep. Tim Roemer (D-IN) introduced an amendment that would have effectively capped spending on the station. After a short floor debate the amendment was defeated by a voice vote. The main difference between the budget passed by the House and the one being considered currently in the Senate is the addition of $275 million in the House version for a crew return vehicle (CRV) for the International Space Station. Funding for a CRV, as well as a habitation module, was not included in the original budget request for NASA by the Bush Administration. Other differences include $25 million for a Pluto mission that the Senate has funded but is not included in the House version.

Related Links:

•  Reuters article about budget bill
•  Text of HR 2620