Senators and witnesses press for multi‑year NASA authorization, warn budget gaps risk Artemis and ISS programs

Senate Commerce Committee members and space industry witnesses told senators at a hearing that Congress needs to pass a multiyear NASA authorization and avoid repeated continuing resolutions to preserve Artemis, the International Space Station (ISS) and U.S. commercial partnerships. Chairman Ted Cruz opened the session by calling for the committee to produce the first comprehensive NASA authorization since 2017 and said continuing, predictable funding is essential. "Make no mistake. We are in a new space race with China," Cruz said. "Any drastic changes in NASA's architecture at this stage threaten United States leadership in space." Why it matters: witnesses said program pauses or funding uncertainty ripple through the industrial base and university partners that supply parts, research and workforce training. Alan Cutler, president and CEO of the…