Press Releases
Rep. Waltz, Posey Lead Bipartisan Request to Have U.S. Space Command Headquartered in FloridaBipartisan Florida Members of Congress: “Our state is committed to assisting our brave servicemembers who go into harm’s way overseas, and now into the frontiers of space.”
Washington, DC,
February 19, 2019
Bipartisan Florida Members of Congress: “Our state is committed to assisting our brave servicemembers who go into harm’s way overseas, and now into the frontiers of space.”
Today, Congressmen Michael Waltz (R-FL), who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, and Bill Posey (R-FL) were joined by a group of bipartisan Florida Representatives to encourage the Acting Secretary of Defense to locate the headquarters of a future U.S. Space Command in Florida.
“Florida is the epicenter for America’s space program,” the members wrote. “Our Space Coast launched the first American suborbital flight and the first American to orbit Earth. From Cape Canaveral, rockets propelled the astronauts that left their footprints on the face of the moon and ferried the space shuttle astronauts into the stratosphere for 30 years. Florida universities lead the world in training premier aviation and aerospace talent, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
“Florida has a strong defense and aerospace industry base and also has a long history of supporting America’s military community,” the members continued. “Florida offers an unrivaled quality of life for personnel and their families. Our state is committed to assisting our brave servicemembers who go into harm’s way overseas, and now into the frontiers of space.”
The full text of the letter is available below and a PDF is available here.
February 19, 2019
The Honorable Patrick Shanahan
Acting Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000
Dear Secretary Shanahan,
We write to express our support for the establishment of a U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) and urge locating the headquarters in Florida.
Space Command is a crucial step for the United States maintaining its position as a global leader in space innovation which is essential to national security and commerce in the 21st Century. According to the January 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community, “countries – including U.S. adversaries and strategic competitors – will become more reliant on space services for civil and military needs, and China and Russia will field new counterspace weapons intended to target U.S. and allied space capabilities.”
Florida, with its existing civilian and commercial space infrastructure and launch capabilities, is uniquely suited, and the logical choice to locate USSPACECOM headquarters to counteract these growing threats.
Florida is the epicenter for America’s space program. Our Space Coast launched the first American suborbital flight and the first American to orbit Earth. From Cape Canaveral, rockets propelled the astronauts that left their footprints on the face of the moon and ferried the space shuttle astronauts into the stratosphere for 30 years. Florida universities lead the world in training premier aviation and aerospace talent, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Florida has a strong defense and aerospace industry base and also has a long history of supporting America’s military community. Florida offers an unrivaled quality of life for personnel and their families. Our state is committed to assisting our brave servicemembers who go into harm’s way overseas, and now into the frontiers of space.
U.S. Space Command will be essential to American national security through the acceleration of space capabilities to defend our national interests and deter our adversaries. We hope these important factors are considered when your department makes recommendations as to where to locate the USSPACECOM headquarters.
We look forward to continuing the discussion on this important national security decision.
Sincerely,
Michael Waltz
Bill Posey
John H. Rutherford
Mario Diaz Balart
Ross Spano
Neal P. Dunn, M.D.
Daniel Webster
Stephanie Murphy
W. Gregory Steube
Gus M. Bilirakis
Ted S. Yoho, D.V.M.
Charlie Crist
Brian Mast
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