Sarah Keegan
Headquarters, Washington, DC                  October 20, 2000
(Phone:  202/358-1902)

RELEASE:  00-159

NASA ADMINISTRATOR REACTS TO FY 2001 APPROPRIATION

     The following is a statement by NASA Administrator Daniel S. 
Goldin concerning the FY 2001 VA-HUD-Independent Agencies 
Appropriations Bill.

"The President has received from the Congress the FY 2001 VA-HUD-
Independent Agencies appropriations bill, and is expected to sign 
the measure in the near future.

"Thanks to the efforts of key members of the House and Senate, and 
with the support of the Administration, this measure provides an 
excellent budget for NASA. Our supporters in the Congress faced 
considerable difficulties in reaching this outcome, and we should 
all be very grateful for their championing of the Nation's civil 
space and aeronautics program. The bill appropriates $14.285 
billion for NASA for FY 2001. This is $250 million above the 
President's budget request, and $633 million more than the FY 2000 
level. The bill fully funds the President's program for NASA, 
including all high-priority initiatives -- the Space Launch 
Initiative, Shuttle Upgrades, the International Space Station, and 
Living With a Star. The bill includes funding, as proposed by 
NASA, for two Mars rover missions in 2003. At a time when the 
public has become increasingly concerned regarding aviation 
safety, the Congress also fully funded the Administration's 
proposals for the Small Aircraft Transport System (SATS) program 
and the Aviation Systems Capacity Program. Finally, the bill 
provides extended buyout authority for NASA to assist in workforce 
rebalancing and restructuring without loss of FTEs, and for 
submittal of the FY 2002 budget in a full-cost mode.

"Very importantly, you -- the men and women of NASA -- are to be 
credited for this robust budget. This is a budget that is moving 
in the right direction. The Congress has recognized that the 
revolution has taken hold at NASA, and that our Faster, Better, 
Cheaper way of doing business has allowed us to do more for less, 
with spectacular mission success, while increasing productivity. 
The Congress knows that it is performance that counts, and this 
budget is a tribute to NASA's performance.

"While NASA will, no doubt, face some challenges in addressing 
emergent needs in Earth Science and Space Science, we are very 
fortunate to be starting the fiscal year from a great vantage 
point. Congratulations to all, and thank for your dedication and 
hard work."
                             -end-