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 Keating's lack of direct committee assignments related to space policy limits his immediate legislative leverage on NASA funding. His public record indicates a wide array of legislative priorities, from criminal justice to maritime policy, which may compete for his attention. While his district benefits from NASA science investments, these are largely concentrated in Earth science, oceanography, and astrobiology related to ocean worlds, suggesting a more specific rather than broad interest in all NASA science disciplines.
Despite these challenges, there is a strong foundation for engagement. The significant NASA grants to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for planetary science and Earth science demonstrate direct federal investment in his district's scientific endeavors. His public support for WHOI, advocacy for science infrastructure, and recognition of climate science's importance indicate a general receptiveness to federal research funding, especially when it aligns with local economic and environmental interests. Advocates can leverage these specific local successes to underscore the broader value of NASA's Science Mission Directorate and the potential impact of proposed budget cuts on critical research.
Direct NASA Science Investment: Significant NASA grants to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in his district support planetary science (ocean worlds, search for life) and Earth science (ocean dynamics, sea ice, sea level rise), demonstrating direct federal investment in NASA's Science Mission Directorate activities. (USAspending, FY2022-FY2024)
Support for Local Marine Science Research: Representative Keating has publicly affirmed strong support for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Sea Grant program, commending its research on coastal environments, communities, and sustainable fisheries, which aligns with NASA's Earth science objectives. (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 2024-02; YouTube, 2024-02)
Advocacy for Science Infrastructure: His office submitted a Community Project Funding request for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy's "Blue Economy Center Project," aiming to upgrade laboratory spaces for marine ecosystem and climate change research, indicating support for scientific infrastructure. (Congressman Bill Keating, FY2025)
Recognition of Climate Science Importance: Representative Keating has publicly acknowledged the critical role of ocean research in understanding and addressing the effects of climate change, such as El Niño and wildfires, directly connecting local scientific endeavors to global environmental challenges. (YouTube, 2024-02)
Engagement in Federal Research Funding: His office's active participation in the Community Project Funding program, which allows members to request federal funds for local projects including those with scientific and environmental components, demonstrates a general commitment to federal research and development investment. (Congressman Bill Keating, 2025-04)