The independent and two-time presidential candidate did so by submitting an amendment to the Endless Frontier Act, which is now under consideration by

Bernie Sanders wants to stop NASA funding for Blue Origin

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2021-05-25 07:30:03

The independent and two-time presidential candidate did so by submitting an amendment to the Endless Frontier Act, which is now under consideration by the full Senate. Sanders' amendment, No. 1925, has a simple purpose, "To eliminate the multi-billion dollar Bezos Bailout."

The "bailout" in question refers to an earlier amendment filed to the Endless Frontier Act during a committee meeting earlier this month. Overall, the Endless Frontier Act is primarily about advancing US scientific and research efforts, but it has become fettered with modifications by US senators. Sanders is seeking to strip language from an amendment that has already been successfully attached to the scientific act.

This earlier amendment, submitted by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), modified NASA's Artemis Program. Cantwell's amendment, in part, called for $10.03 billion in additional funding for NASA to carry out the Human Landing System program. This legislation was filed as Blue Origin and Jeff Bezos were urging Congress to add $10 billion to NASA's budget—enough money to fully fund the development of a second Human Landing System. It was passed 11 days ago without any debate by the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

In theory, Cantwell filed her amendment to the bill because she genuinely wanted competition in NASA's efforts to build a landing system to send astronauts to the Moon, beginning as early as 2024. In reality, Cantwell's amendment is probably more accurately interpreted as an effort to support Blue Origin, which is based in the state she represents.