The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers has sent a letter thanking the leaders of the House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Committee for providing $290 million more than the President requested for NASA in its fiscal 2008 spending bill.
The bill reverses cuts proposed by the administration and extends a moratorium on civil servant layoffs through the end of fiscal 2008. It is expected to reach the House floor by early July.
"The markup’s overall NASA budget of $17.6 billion remains below that authorized, yet it carefully increases the nation’ strategic investment in key areas that have recently seen unwise cuts by the administration," said IFPTE president Gregory Junemann.
The union has resisted aspects of the President’s plan for NASA " the vision for space exploration " with its prioritization of developing a new generation of manned vehicles for space and calling for greater workforce flexibilities including the use of contractors, something the union says jeopardizes institutional knowledge and unwisely tinkers with the NASA’s allure for top talent.
The union recently criticized a recommendation from the National Academy of Public Administration to provide NASA with the authority to invoke retirement for retirement-eligible employees as part of a workforce shaping strategy.
