WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives today named conferees to the House-Senate Conference Committee that will negotiate a final authorization bill for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). 

Republican conferees on the bill as a whole are: Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA), Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX), Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), and Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX).  In addition Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis (R-VA) and Government Reform Committee Member Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH) were named conferees on specific sections of the bill.

Democratic conferees on the bill as a whole are: Science Committee Ranking Member Bart Gordon (D-TN), Space Subcommittee Ranking Member Mark Udall (D-CO), and Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Michael Honda (D-CA).  Science Committee Member Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) will be a conferee in lieu of Rep. Honda on sections of the bill dealing with whistleblower protection and equal access to NASA's education programs.  Additionally, Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Henry Waxman (D-CA) has been named a conferee on specific sections.

The NASA authorization bill, H.R. 3070, was introduced by Chairman Calvert and Chairman Boehlert.  It was unanimously agreed to by the Science Committee by a vote of 36 to 0 on July 14, and passed the full House by a vote of 383-15 on July 22.  The Senate passed a companion bill, S. 1281 on September 28.  Today, the House took up S. 1281 and replaced the language in the bill with the text of H.R. 3070, as it passed the House, and requested a conference with the Senate.   

The Science Committee hopes to bring a final bill before the full House when Congress reconvenes in December.