COLUMBIA LOST
Congress vows thorough look into disaster

By Edwin Chen
Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders of both parties yesterday promised to investigate whether NASA's money shortages played a role in the Columbia disaster and to focus on the troubled space program's long-term future.

Emerging after a closed-door briefing on the Columbia crash from NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe, lawmakers said that committees in both the House and the Senate will hold hearings, starting as early as next week.

"America is committed to space exploration," said Sen. John S. McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Starting either tomorrow or Thursday of next week, McCain said, his panel will focus on "the immediate cause, and the remedies that can be made as soon as possible, so that the program can continue."

The next priority, he said, is to examine "the long-term policies and goals of space exploration — what's the best way to accomplish that, whether we have spent the money safely and efficiently."

In the House, the oversight hearings are scheduled to commence Feb. 27, led by Rep. Sherwood L. Boehlert, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Science Committee.

Boehlert also vowed to conduct a thorough review of NASA's safety procedures and assess its long-term goals.

"We're going to have to face some very difficult decisions in the days ahead — policy decisions," Boehlert said.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said Democrats share the desire for an unvarnished look at the space agency.