President Obama released his budget for NASA in February. NASA and all of its programs are of hugely great importance to our national technological capabilities, economic capacities, and cutting edge innovations. If you disagree, just take a look at the spinoffs document that NASA publishes each year (http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/). The technologies that NASA research has led to that we take for granted every day include, but are certainly not limited to: Lasik surgery scratch resistant lenses, Cordless power tools, Water filters/purification, CAT scanners, Satellite television, Invisible braces, Adjustable smoke detectors, the drive to miniaturize electronics…
Currently, NASA’s budget only represents about half of one penny of every dollar spent by the United States government annually. We are calling to have NASA’s budget increased to one penny on the dollar. That’s it, as crazy as that sounds, it is still only 1 penny of every dollar spent annually. As Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson says, “Right now, NASA's annual budget is half a penny on your tax dollar. For twice that—a penny on a dollar—we can transform the country from a sullen, dispirited nation, weary of economic struggle, to one where it has reclaimed its 20th century birthright to dream of tomorrow.”
Sign this petition to let your Congresspersons know that you want NASA’s budget doubled to 1 penny on the dollar. Find your Congressional Representatives and Senators by going here:http://www.whoismyrepresentative.com/
Tell them that:
• You are a constituent of theirs
• That you would like your Congressperson to request that NASA’s budget be doubled, to 1%
• And, that you would like your Congressperson to turn in a Programmatic Funding Request to the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee of the Approprations Committee on the Committee’s website (http://appropriations.house.gov)
For more information on contacting your representative, please go here: http://spacefrontier.org/2012/03/15/legislative-alert-action-by-monday-march-19/
