Contact: Leslie Oliver (Perlmutter): 303.810.6326
Catherine Mortensen (Lamborn): 202.225.4422
Nat Sillin(Coffman): 202.225.7882
Ben Marter (Markey): 202.503.7888
Today, U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) led a
bipartisan group of Colorado’s Congressional Delegation in sending a
letter to President Obama requesting him to keep Colorado aerospace
jobs intact by continuing to fund NASA’s Constellation project in the
FY 2011 Budget. Constellation is the next generation human spaceflight
project replacing the shuttle program that retires this year.
Delegation Members wrote:
“As
you know, NASA is supported by skilled civil servant and private
contractor workers across the country. Colorado is proud of its robust
aerospace industry, ranking third in the nation in private aerospace
employment. Over 300 Colorado aerospace companies employ thousands of
workers in our state. In Fiscal Year 2008, over $780 million was
obligated to the Colorado aerospace industry, in addition to $85
million going to educational institutions. Constellation’s Orion crew
exploration vehicle alone contributes an estimated 1,000 high tech and
high paying jobs to Colorado, supporting 22 companies across the
state. The Constellation program is a critical engine of technological
innovation, job creation, and economic growth especially during this
economic downturn.”
Full Text of Letter:
President Barack Obama:
As members of the Colorado
Congressional Delegation we are strongly committed to supporting the
success of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and are
concerned with changes in the direction of the agency reflected in your
administration’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget. In particular we support
continued funding for Constellation, the next generation in human
spaceflight as the Shuttle program is retired this year. Our nation -
and Colorado in particular - has much at stake in deciding the future
of our space program.
As you know, NASA is supported
by skilled civil servant and private contractor workers across the
country. Colorado is proud of its robust aerospace industry, ranking
third in the nation in private aerospace employment. Over 300 Colorado
aerospace companies employ thousands of workers in our state. In
Fiscal Year 2008, over $780 million was obligated to the Colorado
aerospace industry, in addition to $85 million going to educational
institutions. Constellation’s Orion crew exploration vehicle alone
contributes an estimated 1,000 high tech and high paying jobs to
Colorado, supporting 22 companies across the state. The Constellation
program is a critical engine of technological innovation, job creation,
and economic growth especially during this economic downturn.
Significant investment has
been made by the public and private sector in Constellation’s Orion and
Ares programs: innovative technologies have been developed and
facilities have been built and upgraded. Major steps have been taken
to maintain our ability to launch astronauts into space and we believe
in pursuing this goal. Human spaceflight is a source of national
pride, it serves our national security, and promises advances in energy
technology. While we are encouraged by the FY11 net increase in NASA
funding with a new focus on building international partnerships and
science education, we believe the Constellation program should remain a
national priority.
As the budget process moves
forward, we remain committed to working with your administration and
with appropriators to secure a safe and robust Constellation space
exploration program that continues U.S. leadership in space.
Sincerely,
Ed Perlmutter
Member of Congress
Doug Lamborn
Member of Congress
Betsy Markey
Member of Congress
Mike Coffman
Member of Congress
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