The Biden-Harris Administration submitted to Congress Friday the presidents priorities for fiscal year 2022 discretionary spending. The following is a statement from acting NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk on the funding request:
This $24.7 billion funding request demonstrates the Biden Administrations commitment to NASA and its partners who have worked so hard this past year under difficult circumstances and achieved unprecedented success.
The presidents discretionary request increases NASAs ability to better understand Earth and further monitor and predict the impacts of climate change. It also gives us the necessary resources to continue advancing Americas bipartisan Moon to Mars space exploration plan, including landing the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under the Artemis program.
We know this funding increase comes at a time of constrained resources, and we owe it to the president and the American people to be good and responsible stewards of every tax dollar invested in NASA. The NASA workforce and the American people should be encouraged by what they see in this funding request. It is an investment in our future, and it shows confidence in what this agency has to offer.
The presidents FY 2022 discretionary funding request:
- Keeps NASA on the path to landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon under the Artemis program. This goal aligns with President Bidens commitment to pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all. With NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, as well as U.S. commercial partnerships with the human landing system and Gateway lunar outpost, we will send astronauts to the Moon and provide learning opportunities for future missions.
- Strengthens NASAs ability to better understand Earth and how it works as an integrated system, from our oceans to our atmosphere, how it all impacts our daily lives, and how it all is impacted by climate change.
- Furthers robotic exploration of the solar system and the universe.
- Invests in aviation to make our skies safer, our fuels cleaner, and to get you to your destination faster than ever before.
- Includes new funding for NASAs STEM engagement efforts to inspire underserved and underrepresented students to become the next generation of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and explorers.
These discretionary investments reflect only one element of the presidents broader agenda. In the coming months, the administration will release the presidents budget, which will present a unified, comprehensive plan to address the overlapping crises we face in a fiscally and economically responsible way.
