Increase the budget of NASA to at least 1% of federal discretionary spending.

The budget of NASA has always been a tiny part of the total federal budget. Even during the Apollo program, NASA's budget never exceeded 4.5% of federal discretionary spending. However, the economic and social gains created by manned space exploration have had profound impacts on our history, economy, and culture. Space exploration creates jobs, advances our technology, and inspires our children to become the innovators of tomorrow. Current NASA funding is less than one half of one percent of the national budget, an amount that limits the feasibility of exploratory manned spaceflight. Federal programs such as corporate bailout exceed the total amount ever given to NASA each year. The US has the money to invest in spaceflight. Do so, and restore humanity's hope for itself.