EP Always Mentally Blocks Out Any Refrence To Mars
11) "While the ultimate goal of human space flight in the inner solar system is the exploration of the planet Mars..."
The ultimate goal is correct, but the bill's author either does not know enough or does not care that some of the intermediate steps are a waste of effort in reaching that goal. He obviously proposes the NEA mission as a stepping stone which it is not. While a lower delta V mission is possible it will not be far lower and the time and money spent developing this and later objectives could just as well be spent going straight to Mars.
Regards,
Mark