MELBOURNE, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody
today hosted a town hall with employees of L3Harris in Melbourne to give an
update from Washington on her legislative priorities involving Florida’s space
industry and U.S. national defense. During the town hall, Senator Moody answered
questions about Florida’s leadership in advancing the U.S. space program,
including her Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, which recently became law
through the One Big Beautiful Bill. Additionally, Senator Moody discussed her
push to move NASA Headquarters to the Space Coast through her CAPE Canaveral
Act, and her recent efforts to modernize Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex
37. More information below.
Senator Ashley Moody said, “Florida’s space
industry is fueling our economy and bolstering our national defense. I am happy
to report a few recent legislative victories that I was able to help achieve,
like my Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, that will ensure Florida and the
U.S. remain leaders in space exploration and innovation. Since being sworn into
the Senate, supporting our Space Coast has been a priority of mine, and I
enjoyed speaking about our legislative priorities in this field with employees
of L3Harris today.”
Senator Moody discussed
her recent legislative victories and laid out priorities she is working on to
promote Florida’s aerospace industry:
Secure U.S. Leadership
in Space Act
- In July, provisions of Senator Moody’s Secure U.S.
Leadership in Space Act were signed by President Trump into law through
the One Big Beautiful Bill. This legislative measure ensures that Florida
and the U.S. remain leaders in space exploration and innovation.
The Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act levels the playing field by
treating spaceports just like airports and seaports making spaceport
facility bonds tax-exempt.
Consolidating Aerospace
Programs Efficiently (CAPE) at Canaveral Act
- In March, Senator Moody introduced the CAPE Canaveral
Act, directing the relocation of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast.
Bicameral Effort to
Revive and Modernize Central Florida Launch Site
- In July, Senator Moody, along with U.S. Representative
Byron Donalds (R-FL), urged Air Force Secretary Troy Meink to increase the
efficiency of modernization operations at Cape Canaveral Space Launch
Complex 37 (SLC-37). SLC-37 is one of the few launch pads on the Eastern
Range that has historically been used for heavy lift launches, but today,
it sits idle due to outdated infrastructure. The effort seeks to revive
the operational readiness of SLC-37 to ensure continued American space
dominance.
L3Harris is the only
major aerospace and defense company headquartered in Florida, being based in
Melbourne since 1978. The company employs more than 8,000 workers in Florida.
Over the past 20 years, L3Harris has built, maintained and upgraded Florida’s Statewide
Law Enforcement Radio System, which provides reliable, resilient connectivity
for thousands of radios in law enforcement vehicles, boats and aircraft across
the state.
L3Harris’s Florida
locations also develop key aerospace communication devices, such as unfurlable
mesh reflector antennas, and rocket engines, like the RL10 rocket engine that
powers the upper stages of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket.
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