WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Today, Senator
Ashley Moody introduced the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the
United States remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and
exploration. The legislation seeks to bolster public-private partnerships by making
spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports
and seaports.
Senator
Ashley Moody said, “I
have seen firsthand how public and private entities can come together to make
great strides in innovation on Florida’s Space Coast. It is vital to
incentivize these partnerships and ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of
the space industry to not only build upon Florida’s economic successes but
protect national security interests as well. I am thankful for my colleagues
that have joined me in introducing this important legislation and look forward
to bolstering Florida’s position as the leader of space exploration.”
Senator Ben
Ray Lujan said, “As our
adversaries rapidly invest in space innovation and infrastructure, we must act
decisively to maintain our leadership in space innovation. Strengthening
investments in spaceports – like Spaceport America in New Mexico and others
nationwide – is critical to this effort. That is why I’m proud to introduce
this bill that creates pathways for public and private partnerships to ensure
our country remains at the forefront of space innovation.”
Representative
Neal Dunn said, “The
United States must invest heavily in its space infrastructure to maintain our
economic dominance and national security interests in space. Florida
communities are eager to expand investments in space infrastructure, and
Congress must be willing to facilitate these efforts. This bipartisan
legislation will help secure our commercial and defense interests while paving
the way for American dominance in space.”
Representative
Salud Carbajal said,
“We’re in the middle of a new space race and we need to give American
spaceports the tools they need to maintain their competitive edge. Our
bipartisan bill is an important step forward to improving public-private
investments into our growing space industry and ensuring our country doesn’t
fall behind our foreign competitors.”
Rob Long,
President and CEO of Space Florida
said, “Thank you to Sen. Ashley Moody, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Rep. Neal Dunn, and
Rep. Salud Carbajal for reintroducing this legislation that is a game-changer
for America’s space infrastructure. By giving spaceports access to tax-exempt
financing—just like our airports and seaports—we’re unlocking private capital
to accelerate infrastructure upgrades for our economy and national security.
This isn’t just about competition in the space economy—it’s ensuring America,
and Florida, leads it.”
Scott
McLaughlin, Executive Director of Spaceport America said, “As U.S. launch activity
accelerates, it is imperative that spaceports have the same financial
instruments that have benefited other modes of transportation. Private
investments into commercial spaceports provide a ‘public good,’ just as the
growth of shipping ports and airports have. This bill will help spaceports grow
to meet the nation’s need and stay the leader in space.”
Specifically,
the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act seeks to amend the tax code to treat
spaceports like airports and seaports by allowing them to receive tax-free
bonds.
Earlier this
Congress, Senator Moody’s introduced the Consolidating Aerospace Programs
Efficiently (CAPE) at Canaveral Act, known as the CAPE Canaveral Act, directing the relocation of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters to Florida’s
Space Coast.
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