Sixty-one House members, including 12 Democrats, urged Senate leadership Tuesday to confirm the nomination of Oklahoma 1st District Congressman Jim Bridenstine to head the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The representatives serve with Bridenstine on the House Armed Services and Science, Space and Technology committees, and includes fellow Oklahomans Frank Lucas and Steve Russell.
Those supporting Bridenstine also included Rep. Brian Babin of Texas, whose district includes Space Center Houston and the Johnson Space Center. Babin coordinated the effort to win Bridenstine’s approval. Also backing Bridenstine were Rep. Mo Brooks, whose district includes the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Bridenstine’s confirmation has been on hold for months because at least two of the Senate Republicans’ narrow majority are known to oppose it. Sources say at least one of those may now will be willing to support Bridenstine.
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The most vocal GOP opposition has been from Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Besides representing the home state of the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, Rubio has been on the outs with Bridenstine because of the latter’s involvement in Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Rubio was also a 2016 GOP presidential candidate.
Bridenstine, who is not seeking re-election to Congress, has also drawn fire for his lack of science or engineering background and his previous positions on climate science.
His supporters, though, laud his knowledge of space technology and the commercial space industry.
The letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Chuck Schumer of New York notes that Acting NASA Director Robert Lightfoot is retiring at the end of April and says “NASA must have a presidentially appointed and Senate confirmed leader in place.”
Bridenstine, the letter says, has distinguished himself as “one of the most engaged, passionate and knowledgeable members” of the subcommittee overseeing NASA operations.
NASA has gone more than a year without a permanent director, the longest span in its history.
Bridenstine is a military aviator and former director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. He was elected to Congress in 2012.
Randy Krehbiel
Staff Writer
I have been with the Tulsa World since 1979. I'm a native of Hinton, Okla., and graduate of Oklahoma State University. I primarily cover government and politics. Phone: 918-581-8365
