Named by astronaut Dr. Sally Ride, Mission to Planet Earth is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) contribution to the President's U.S. Global Change Research Program. Mission to Planet Earth represents global leadership by America, extensive international cooperation, and a cause that will inspire both our children and our brightest scientists. The mission is to understand the global climate changes that could devastate our environment and economy. This will be achieved through a series of satellites and supporting programs coordinated with international efforts to global study climate change. As NASA's budget shrinks, Mission to Planet Earth competes for funding within the agency.

Early in the funding process, the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs (VA), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Independent Agencies, which funds NASA, voted to table (kill) NASA's orbiting Space Station project to free funds for many other competing programs, including Mission to Planet Earth. When the VA-HUD-Independent Agencies' Appropriations (H.R. 2519) came to the floor, Representatives Jim Chapman (D TX-1) and Bill Lowery (R CA-41) offered an amendment to reverse the Subcommittee's decision. The Chapman-Lowery Amendment cut $145 million (18%) from the funding level for Mission to Planet Earth as reported by the Appropriations Committee.

The Chapman-Lowery Amendment was adopted 240-173 on June 6, 1991. NO is the pro-environment vote.