(PartiallyPolitics.com) – Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a ranking member of the Commerce Committee, sent a memo to Republican members of the Senate Commerce Committee, and specifically the Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee, where he requested that the committee reject some of the provisions he pointed out.
The memo started off by stating that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)is intended to be used for daily weather forecasts, warnings about adverse weather conditions, monitoring the climate and sending the findings to fisheries management, and aiding with marine commerce. He added that any funding that is not being used for the administration’s intended purpose should be blocked.
In the memo, Cruz explicitly opposed the NOAA request of $1.2 million as part of its 2024 budget which is to be used in order to tackle any climate change concerns and racial equity faced by those in underserved coastal communities. As Cruz claimed, all appropriation funds should be entirely focused on ensuring that the agency’s mission is able to be fulfilled without any resources being diverted.
This was not the only administration that he addressed in the memo which included his opposition to provisions relating to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and National Science Foundation (NSF).
Specifically, he opposed NASA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs which would require the agency to gain access to $22 million. He also expressed doubt about the Earth Science program expansion proposed by NASA. NASA’s request for this program would require $278 million.
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