Seraphim
07-20-2004, 10:36 PM
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By Anna Willard
WASHINGTON (*******) - Facing a tight budget, a House of Representatives subcommittee on Tuesday backed a $92.9 billion spending bill that cuts funding for President Bush (news - web sites)'s plan to send humans to Mars and trims money for science and environmental programs.
Republicans and Democrats said the squeeze on the 2005 appropriations bill covering the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other agencies was prompted by the budget deficit, which is expected to set another record.
"The budget crunch that we all knew was coming has finally arrived," said Florida Republican Bill Young, the chairman of the House appropriations committee.
But Democrat Rep. Alan Mollohan from West Virginia said the spending allocation was "totally inadequate."
Republicans say the budget deficit, which is expected to top a record $400 billion this year, results from the costs of fighting terrorism in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. But Democrats blame it on Bush's tax cuts, which they say also squandered the surpluses he inherited upon taking office three-and-a-half years ago.
The bill, approved in the subcommittee by a voice vote, cuts funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration by $1.1 billion from Bush's request, and by $229 million compared to the 2004 budget.
It also chops $538 million from Bush's $910 million request to finance a long-term plan to return humans to the moon and then on to Mars. Bush had announced this project earlier in the year.
"We simply could not afford to fund the vision," said the subcommittee chairman, Rep. Jim Walsh, a New York Republican.
UNMANNED MARS MISSIONS
But the bill fully funds the $691 million request for unmanned Mars missions and leaves intact the requested $4.3 billion for the space shuttle program.
The Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) had its budget cut by $613 million from 2004 levels. This includes a $39 million reduction to Environmental Programs and Management.
The National Science Foundation (news - web sites) also faces a $111 million funding cut from 2004 levels.
The Association of American Universities said it was "alarmed" by the cuts to NASA (news - web sites) and NSF funding.
"These cuts represent a reversal for two critical research agencies at a time when greater investments in research are essential to maintaining America's global leadership in science and technology," the group said.
Walsh said he tried to ensure veterans and housing were fully funded but several lawmakers said the budget for these programs was still inadequate.
The bill added $1.9 billion more to veterans health care above the 2004 level. Mollohan said veterans groups reckon that they need $1.3 billion on top of that.
The full House has to support the bill and the Senate would have to back its version of the legislation before it could be sent to Bush for signing in to law.
By Anna Willard
WASHINGTON (*******) - Facing a tight budget, a House of Representatives subcommittee on Tuesday backed a $92.9 billion spending bill that cuts funding for President Bush (news - web sites)'s plan to send humans to Mars and trims money for science and environmental programs.
Republicans and Democrats said the squeeze on the 2005 appropriations bill covering the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other agencies was prompted by the budget deficit, which is expected to set another record.
"The budget crunch that we all knew was coming has finally arrived," said Florida Republican Bill Young, the chairman of the House appropriations committee.
But Democrat Rep. Alan Mollohan from West Virginia said the spending allocation was "totally inadequate."
Republicans say the budget deficit, which is expected to top a record $400 billion this year, results from the costs of fighting terrorism in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. But Democrats blame it on Bush's tax cuts, which they say also squandered the surpluses he inherited upon taking office three-and-a-half years ago.
The bill, approved in the subcommittee by a voice vote, cuts funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration by $1.1 billion from Bush's request, and by $229 million compared to the 2004 budget.
It also chops $538 million from Bush's $910 million request to finance a long-term plan to return humans to the moon and then on to Mars. Bush had announced this project earlier in the year.
"We simply could not afford to fund the vision," said the subcommittee chairman, Rep. Jim Walsh, a New York Republican.
UNMANNED MARS MISSIONS
But the bill fully funds the $691 million request for unmanned Mars missions and leaves intact the requested $4.3 billion for the space shuttle program.
The Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) had its budget cut by $613 million from 2004 levels. This includes a $39 million reduction to Environmental Programs and Management.
The National Science Foundation (news - web sites) also faces a $111 million funding cut from 2004 levels.
The Association of American Universities said it was "alarmed" by the cuts to NASA (news - web sites) and NSF funding.
"These cuts represent a reversal for two critical research agencies at a time when greater investments in research are essential to maintaining America's global leadership in science and technology," the group said.
Walsh said he tried to ensure veterans and housing were fully funded but several lawmakers said the budget for these programs was still inadequate.
The bill added $1.9 billion more to veterans health care above the 2004 level. Mollohan said veterans groups reckon that they need $1.3 billion on top of that.
The full House has to support the bill and the Senate would have to back its version of the legislation before it could be sent to Bush for signing in to law.