Note: This analysis uses AI to help identify potential outreach strategies for space science issues. Because it uses AI, it is important to understand the sources and limitations of this analysis. Space-related committee assignments (if present), and additional sources (if present), are from congress.gov and a direct output of a targeted web search. Opportunities, challenges, overall summary, and preparation recommendations are products of AI analyses. The biography uses AI to summarize key aspects of the member's Wikipedia page. All AI-generated claims, assessments, and recommendations should be independently verified. This is an experimental feature, and intended to provide guidance and inspiration for outreach strategies for your meeting. Feedback is welcome: casey.dreier@planetary.org.
Representative Khanna has a strong record of advocating for federal investment in science and technology, co-authoring the CHIPS and Science Act and supporting emerging biotechnology, which aligns with NASA's broader scientific mission and has brought significant contracts to his district. His past statements referencing NASA's role in Silicon Valley's development and support for Earth and climate science also suggest a potential receptiveness to specific NASA science initiatives.
However, his focus on fiscal scrutiny, reducing "wasteful spending," and a broad legislative agenda encompassing many domestic priorities could make securing increased funding for NASA science challenging, especially given the proposed FY2026 cuts. His lack of direct committee assignments related to space may also limit his proactive engagement on this specific issue, requiring advocates to clearly demonstrate how NASA science investments align with his priorities for economic patriotism and efficient, impactful federal spending.
Support for CHIPS and Science Act: Representative Khanna co-authored the Endless Frontier Act, which formed the basis for the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, a law enacted in August 2022 that includes significant investments in science and technology research, including areas relevant to NASA's science mission. His office announced $100 million in CHIPS Act funding for Applied Materials in Santa Clara, CA, within his district, in November 2024. [cite: 3, 8, 10, 2024-11]
Engagement with Emerging Biotechnology: As a member of the bipartisan National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, Representative Khanna actively works to advance U.S. innovation in biotechnology, a field with applications in NASA's biological and physical sciences, and co-introduced the National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025 in April 2025. [cite: 9, 11, 13, 17, 2025-04]
Advocacy for Broad Science and Technology Investment: Representative Khanna has consistently advocated for substantial federal investment in research and development across various emerging technologies, emphasizing the importance of U.S. leadership in science and innovation, and in April 2025, he referenced NASA's historical role in fostering Silicon Valley's tech development. [cite: 6, 19, 2025-04]
Support for Earth and Climate Science: Representative Khanna has expressed support for investments in climate science and green technology, aligning with NASA's Earth Science mission to monitor and understand our planet, and discussed the CHIPS and Science Act's contributions to climate policy in June 2023. [cite: 3, 18, 2023-06]
Direct NASA Contracts in District: Companies within Representative Khanna's district have received significant NASA contracts for advanced scientific and technological development, demonstrating a direct local economic and research interest in NASA's activities, including Aosense, Inc. for gravity gradiometer technology and Banpil Photonics, Inc. for Earth's radiation budget detector. [cite: USAspending, FY2022-FY2024]