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.
Overall Summary
Representative Messmer has shown some interest in NASA's broader mission, co-sponsoring legislation to establish a university research center for deep space and cislunar exploration, and supporting a NASA public-private talent program. His district also benefits from a significant NASA contract for facility upgrades, demonstrating a direct economic tie to the agency. Furthermore, his leadership in the Congressional Hypersonics Caucus suggests an interest in advanced space-related technologies.
However, advocating for increased NASA space science funding, especially given the proposed 47% cut, presents challenges. He does not hold a space-related committee assignment, and his strong fiscal conservatism and past skepticism toward climate science could make him wary of significant budget increases for Earth science activities. While his district benefits from a general NASA contract, there is no direct NASA Science spending, and his public record shows limited explicit advocacy for the broader Science Mission Directorate, such as astrophysics or planetary science, with his primary focus appearing to be on national security and local economic drivers.
Preparation Recommendations
Consider exploring how NASA science investments directly benefit universities and research institutions, particularly in Indiana or neighboring states, fostering innovation and a skilled workforce, aligning with his co-sponsorship of H.R.108.
Explore how the significant NASA contract with Energy Systems Group LLC in Newburgh, IN, demonstrates NASA's broader economic impact in the district, and how science investments similarly contribute to local jobs and technological innovation.
Look into how NASA's space science activities, particularly those involving advanced technology development and Earth observation for critical weather and climate monitoring, contribute to national security and technological leadership, aligning with his interest in hypersonics.
About Mark B. Messmer
Served in the Indiana House of Representatives (2008-2014) and Indiana Senate (2014-2024).
Held leadership role as Indiana Senate Majority Leader from 2018 to 2022.
Engaged in state energy policy, supporting coal gasification technology legislation.
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, sworn in January 2025.
Opportunities
Support for Space Research: Representative Messmer co-sponsored H.R.108, the Space Research Innovation Act, introduced in January 2025, which directs NASA to establish a university-affiliated research center for cislunar, deep space, and interplanetary research, indicating support for NASA's science and exploration objectives. (Congress.gov, 2025-01)
Support for NASA Workforce Development: Representative Messmer co-sponsored H.R.5122, introduced in September 2025, which aims to provide for a NASA public-private talent program, suggesting an interest in strengthening NASA's human capital and capabilities. (Congress.gov, 2025-09)
Local Economic Ties to NASA: Energy Systems Group LLC, located in Newburgh, IN within Representative Messmer's district, received a $19.1 million contract for energy savings performance upgrades for the NASA Glenn Research Center, demonstrating a direct local economic benefit from NASA operations. (USAspending, FY2022-FY2024)
Interest in Advanced Space-Related Technology: Representative Messmer launched the Congressional Hypersonics Caucus in July 2025, indicating an interest in advanced technological development that often has applications in space and national security. (House.gov, 2025-07)
Challenges
No Space-Related Committee Assignment: Representative Messmer does not hold any current space-related committee assignments in the 119th Congress, which may limit his direct engagement and influence on NASA space science policy and funding. (Authoritative Committee Data, 2025-01)
Skepticism Towards Climate Science: Representative Messmer has publicly opposed Obama-era climate policies, characterizing them as "burdensome regulations that ignore commonsense science" and supported their repeal, which could indicate a challenging posture toward NASA's Earth science activities. (Quiver Quantitative, 2025-07)
Fiscal Conservatism and Spending Control: He has consistently emphasized reducing federal spending, controlling the national debt, and eliminating "waste, fraud, and abuse" in federal programs, which could lead to scrutiny of NASA's budget, including science funding. (Q&A with Mark Messmer, 2024-12; Dubois County Free Press, Inc., 2025-03; Quiver Quantitative, 2025-07; YouTube, 2025-06)
Prioritization of National Security and Local Economic Drivers: His stated priorities include national defense (specifically Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane), agriculture, and infrastructure, which may compete for his attention and advocacy compared to broader NASA science initiatives. (Q&A with Mark Messmer, 2024-12; U.S. Rep. Mark Messmer, 2025-01; Quiver Quantitative, 2025-09; U.S. Representative Mark Messmer, 2025-01)
Limited Public Record on Broad NASA Science Advocacy: While he supports defense-related space initiatives like the GOLDEN DOME Act, his public record does not show explicit advocacy for NASA's broader Science Mission Directorate activities such as astrophysics, planetary science, or heliophysics. (Sullivan, Cramer, & Messmer Introduce New GOLDEN DOME Legislation, 2025-06)