Congressman George Whitesides Celebrates House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen U.S. Leadership in Space and Energy Innovation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. George Whitesides (CA-27) celebrated the House passage of his DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Congressman Nick Begich (AK-AL), to formally strengthen collaboration between the Department of Energy (DOE) and NASA. This legislation will ensure continued U.S. leadership in space exploration and energy innovation by codifying a long-standing partnership between the two agencies into federal law.

"As NASA's former Chief of Staff, I know that research collaboration is critical to the overall goal of advancing America's leadership in space," said Rep. George Whitesides. "By formalizing NASA's partnership with the Department of Energy through bipartisan legislation, we can ensure greater efficiency, oversight, and progress in space exploration and energy innovation."

"Congressman Whitesides brought his knowledge and expertise as a former NASA Chief of Staff to the table and together we have advanced a bill that strengthens America's scientific leadership and supports cross-agency innovation," said Congressman Nick Begich. "This is a strong, bipartisan step forward for American leadership in space and energy."

For more than 50 years, DOE and its predecessor, the Atomic Energy Commission, have contributed to America's space program, most notably through the development of Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS), which powered the Apollo missions and more than two dozen other space expeditions. Today, the two agencies continue to work together on nuclear thermal propulsion systems and fission surface power technologies, which will be critical for future lunar and Martian exploration.

Despite this long-standing collaboration, no formal law governs their partnership. The DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act ensures a structured and efficient research relationship between the agencies, allowing Congress to better oversee their joint initiatives and direct resources toward breakthrough technologies. This legislation directs the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of NASA to carry out cross-cutting research and development focused on their respective mission priorities.

The bill does not authorize additional spending, ensuring that DOE and NASA operate within their existing budgets. It also requires both agencies to submit a comprehensive report to Congress within two years of enactment, detailing their collaborative efforts, research achievements, and future initiatives.

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