Sometimes I'm amazed at how far a little dissinformation can go:

Report From Washington
Brian E. Chase
Vice President, Washington Operations

The Vision for Space Exploration continues to move through the legislative process on Capitol Hill. Although there was initial resistance to the new vision - largely because of the incorrect cost estimates that were being circulated in the media - members of Congress and their staff have a better understanding of the vision and how it will be funded. This is due, in no small part, to the efforts of the Coalition for Space Exploration, which continues to provide information to elected officials, the public, and media about the new vision.

That's not to say there aren't still some serious questions being asked in the key Congressional committees, so you can expect to see a robust discussion about the priorities, funding, and how NASA will be reorganized to support the vision. But, generally speaking members and their staff are supportive of the new vision; they just want more details on how it will unfold in the short term and ensure NASA has a plan to handle the tough issues on the road ahead. Importantly, the new leadership in Code T - NASA's new Office of Exploration Systems - has been very well received on the Hill. The head of that office, retired Admiral Craig Steidle, who ran the Joint Strike Fighter Program, is instilling quite a bit of confidence on the Hill that NASA is up for the task.

Additionally, one of the strongest champions for the new vision on Capitol Hill has been House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. He and his staff have worked tirelessly to ensure the vision was being accurately portrayed, and he is helping it move through the legislative process. While many other House Members - such as Reps. Dave Weldon, Bud Cramer, Tom Feeney, Lamar Smith, Steny Hoyer, and others - have also demonstrated strong leadership during the budget process, the presence of a senior Congressional leader such as Rep. DeLay has been vital to keep the vision on the legislative agenda.