Support for Senator Moody’s Legislation to Locate U.S. Space Academy in Florida Grows—Reps. Donalds and Haridopolos File Companion Bill in the U.S. House

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Support for Senator Ashley Moody's legislation to locate the new U.S. Space Academy in Florida is growing. Rep. Byron Donalds, with the aid of Rep. Mike Haridopolos, recently filed companion legislation to Senator Moody's STARS Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Thank you, Representative Donalds and Representative Haridopolos, for introducing the STARS Act to bring the new U.S. Space Academy to the Sunshine State. Momentum for our mission is growing, and Florida is unified in this effort to ensure our state remains the leader in space innovation and exploration," said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

• The newly announced U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry.
• Senator Moody recently filed the legislation in the Senate. In addition to filing this legislation, Senator Moody has been working with state partners to address the RFI put out by the Administration to encourage the establishment of the new Space Academy in Florida.
• Earlier this month, Senator Moody rallied space industry leaders to make the pitch for Florida to house the new academy.
• Senator Moody has a staunch record supporting Florida's Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500%since 2016.
• Senator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration.
• The legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports.
• Senator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers.
• The proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA's existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon.
• Senator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida's Space Coast-where it belongs.
• Earlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center where the crew thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians, and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled.

# # #