Warns Cuts Could Undermine Nation's Standing In
Aerospace
While
most of the attention on President Bush's proposed FY2008 budget,
released Monday, has centered
on the contentious issue of user fees in the aerospace community,
the American Institution of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
notes one area of that fiscal plan shows promise: the amount of
funding allotted for NASA.
"AIAA is pleased that during a time of competing funding
priorities the President has maintained his commitment to NASA with
a $17.3 billion dollars request, representing a 3.1 percent
increase over the 2007 request," said AIAA President Roger Simpson
to ANN Tuesday. "As Congress commences with its own budget
deliberations, AIAA would like to express our desire that the level
of requested funding be maintained, if not enhanced."
Simpson added the administration's proposed budget request "will
provide relative stability and more predictability for the agency
while continuing to orient its activities toward space exploration.
AIAA strongly desires additional top line funding for aeronautics
research -- although not at the expense of other budget items."
That last comment is important, as critics of the budget plan
outside the aerospace community -- and there are many, judging by a
multitude of news reports surfacing -- state President Bush's plan
gives short shrift to programs aiding lower income segments of the
population, such as education programs Medicare.
Democrats, in particular, also note the proposal calls for a
balanced budget by 2012 -- but apparently neglects funding for the
war in Iraq and Afghanistan past 2009.
In the past, NASA has seen its funding cut sharply back from
proposed levels in the final budget... in the interest of giving
more to programs seen by some to have a greater beneficial impact
on more people than the space program. AIAA cautions against that
attitude, stating such cuts could cause the US to give up ground in
the aerospace community.
"In an increasingly competitive global industry sector, the
United States will have to strive ever harder and commit to stable,
robust investments in aeronautics R&D if our nation is to
maintain its global leadership position," notes Simpson.
AIAA is headquartered in suburban Washington, DC. The Institute
serves over 35,000 members in 65 regional sections and 79
countries. AIAA membership is drawn from all levels of industry,
academia, private research organizations, and government.