Washington, D.C. – Friday, February 5, 2021, U.S. Representatives Randy Weber (R-TX) and Charlie Crist (D-FL) announced the establishment of the Bipartisan Space & Aeronautics Caucus for the 117th Congress.
“I am excited to co-chair this Caucus with Congressman Charlie Crist. This bipartisan space caucus will promote awareness and hopefully encourage members and their staff to engage more closely on these issues. My district is home to seventy-five percent of the Johnson Space Center workforce, the home of mission control and human spaceflight. I am looking forward to thoughtful discussions on space policy both in the Caucus and on the House Science Committee this Congress,” said Rep. Weber.
“Proud to join Congressman Weber in establishing the bipartisan Space & Aeronautics Congressional Caucus to keep space exploration and development at the forefront of the conversation in Congress,” said Rep. Crist. “From Kennedy Space Center to our thriving aerospace industry, Floridians are deeply proud of the role our state plays in advancing America’s goals in space. This Caucus will allow my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to engage in the renewed excitement Americans across the country are experiencing as our nation reasserts its leadership in space and reaches new heights in exploration!”
The Caucus will explore several important matters of policy, including, but not limited to:
- U.S. activities in low-Earth orbit (LEO), including International Space Station (ISS) operations
- LEO commercialization
- Space situational awareness & space transportation management
- Space regulatory framework
- Earth science & planetary science
- Aeronautics
- Safety and transparency across American civil, commercial, and military space
- International collaboration & cooperation in space
- U.S. competitiveness in space and combatting foreign threats (including to IP, supply chain, cybersecurity)
- Deep-space exploration (including advancing nuclear propulsion R&D efforts)
- Promoting STEM engagement & access to STEM education for all
“The U.S., with our international and industry partners, are returning to the Moon – to stay. Americans across the country are contributing to the hardware currently being built and tested to get us there safely, and enable us to conduct important scientific missions, and better prepare for future crewed missions to Mars and beyond.
Working together, we believe Congress can continue its history of strong bipartisan support for America’s space programs by engaging on these issues,” said Weber.
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