VIDEO: Senator Moody Rallies Space Industry Leaders in Call to Bring U.S. Space Academy to Florida

SPACE COAST, Fla.-Senator Ashley Moody today stood with space industry leaders to urge the administration to select Florida for the newly announced U.S. Space Academy. Space Florida CEO Rob Long, along with members from the Space Coast Economic Development Council, and the aerospace manufacturing community joined Senator Moody to make the pitch for Florida to house the new academy. Senator Moody also plans to file legislation once the Senate is back in session to solidify Florida as the Space Academy's new home.

"We are America's space state. Florida helped launch our nation into the Space Age, and now we are ready to lead the way into the next era of American space leadership. Today, I stood with space industry leaders on our Space Coast to make the pitch to place the newly announced U.S. Space Academy where it belongs-in Florida," said Senator Ashley Moody.

"For decades, Florida has served as our country's epicenter for U.S. space exploration and launch activity. The Sunshine State is home to one of the most advanced space ecosystems in the world and is uniquely positioned to ensure American space dominance for generations to come. The rare combination of our elite academic institutions, a renowned industrial base, robust manufacturing capabilities, and rapidly expanding commercial space presence, coupled with NASA's Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, provides an unparalleled educational opportunity for the United States Space Academy. I want to thank President Trump for his leadership in creating this vital institute, and I am proud to work alongside Senator Ashley Moody to secure its success," said Rep. Byron Donalds.

"There is no better place to train the next generation of American space leaders than the state that has launched generations of Americans to the stars," said Rep. Mike Haridopolos. "Florida has the infrastructure, universities, workforce, and unmatched experience to make the United States Space Academy a success. As Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I am proud to support Senator Moody's legislation to bring this new institution to Florida."

BACKGROUND:

• Rep. Donalds will lead the legislation in the House. Both Rep. Haridopolos and Rep. Donalds have announced support for Senator Moody's proposal.
• 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.
• Last week, Senator Moody announced she will be introducing legislation to bring the new academy to Florida, and also co-led an effort calling on the administration to consider Florida for the new institution.
• 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 as they 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.

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