During the mid to late 1960's - when we put men on the surface of the moon among many other scientific feats - NASA's budget topped out at 4.41% of the US bugdet. If the United States is to remain first in scientific excellence and maintain a presence in the next frontier for international competition, we must increase funding to NASA.
The United States Senate Science Committee met in March 2012 where astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson testified that "Right now, NASA's annual budget is half a penny on your tax dollar. For twice that—a penny on a dollar—we can transform the country from a sullen, dispirited nation, weary of economic struggle, to one where it has reclaimed its 20th century birthright to dream of tomorrow."
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA]