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 Titus's academic background and co-sponsorship of the NASA Reauthorization Act suggest a general appreciation for science and NASA's mission. However, her lack of a direct committee assignment for space policy, coupled with her strong legislative focus on social programs, healthcare, and local economic issues like tourism, indicates that increased NASA space science funding may not be a top-tier priority for her.
Despite these challenges, her district significantly benefits from NASA science grants to the Nevada System of Higher Education, supporting astrophysics, planetary science, and astrobiology research at UNLV. Her support for a NASA partnership with the Desert Research Institute for wildfire mitigation also demonstrates an interest in NASA's applied science. Highlighting these direct local investments and their contributions to scientific advancement and local economic activity will be critical in advocating for sustained or increased NASA science funding, especially given the proposed FY2026 budget cuts.
Preparation Recommendations
Consider researching specific faculty, student, or community success stories stemming from the NASA science grants awarded to the Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education, particularly at UNLV, to highlight the local benefits of these investments.
Explore how Representative Titus's academic background as a political science professor and her authorship of "Bombs in the Backyard" might resonate with the importance of federal investment in scientific research and its long-term societal impacts.
Look into specific provisions within the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which Representative Titus co-sponsored, that align with or directly support the types of space science research currently benefiting Nevada institutions like UNLV and the Desert Research Institute.
About Dina Titus
Holds a Ph.D. and was a political science professor at UNLV.
Authored "Bombs in the Backyard: Atomic Testing and American Politics."
Served 20 years in the Nevada Senate, including as Minority Leader.
Appointed to the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
Opportunities
Co-sponsorship of NASA Reauthorization: Representative Titus co-sponsored H.R.8958, the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which passed the House and reauthorizes NASA's programs, including lunar and Mars exploration, Earth science, and commercial spaceflight activities through FY2025.
Support for Local NASA Science Grants: Her district benefits from significant NASA grants to the Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education (including UNLV) for various science activities, such as astrophysics, planetary science, and astrobiology research. (USAspending, FY2022-FY2024)
Advocacy for Science and Research Funding: Representative Titus has publicly supported federal funding for scientific research, as evidenced by her statement on the FY2024 appropriations package which included increases for cancer and Alzheimer's research, and climate change activities.
Academic Background: Her background as a political science professor with a Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) suggests an appreciation for academic research and scientific inquiry. (Biography)
Community Project Funding for NASA Partnership: Representative Titus requested funding for the Desert Research Institute (DRI) to partner with NASA in utilizing satellite technology and AI for mitigating wildfire smoke impacts in Nevada, demonstrating support for NASA's Earth science applications with local relevance.
Challenges
Lack of Direct Legislative Platform: Representative Titus holds no current space-related committee assignments in the 119th Congress, which limits her direct legislative influence over NASA's budget and policy.
Competing Local Economic Priorities: Her consistent advocacy for Nevada's tourism and gambling industries, including efforts to amend gambling tax regulations, indicates a strong focus on local economic issues that may compete for legislative attention. (Casino.org, 2025-08; ReadWrite, 2025-08; Vertex AI Search, 2025-07)
Prioritization of Social Programs and Healthcare: Representative Titus frequently criticizes budget proposals that cut social safety net programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and education, highlighting these as primary legislative concerns. (Vertex AI Search, 2025-09; Vertex AI Search, 2025-07; Vertex AI Search, 2025-05; Public Now, 2025-02)
Focus on Applied Environmental Science: While supporting environmental research, her recent community project funding requests emphasize local applications such as water infrastructure, pathogen detection, and wildfire smoke mitigation, rather than broad NASA space science or exploration. (U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus, 2025-09; LegiStorm, 2024-03)
General Fiscal Opposition, Lacking Specific NASA Science Advocacy: Her public statements on federal spending primarily focus on opposing Republican budget cuts to social services and education, without specifically advocating for increased or protected NASA science funding within these broader fiscal debates. (Vertex AI Search, 2025-09; Vertex AI Search, 2025-07; Vertex AI Search, 2025-05; Public Now, 2025-02)