Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) spearheaded a bipartisan call from Florida lawmakers to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation for greater coordination with the aerospace industry in the Sunshine State.
As the Washington Examiner described, Rep. Steube and the other signers of the letter are calling for the creation of an Airspace Coordination Team (ACT) that streamlines relations between federal and private sector partners, particularly as space launches are expected to increase over the next several years.
After all, the FAA has stated that facilities are understaffed, leading to canceled commercial flights.
"From Cape Canaveral to the Suncoast, Florida is the cornerstone of America's vibrant aerospace sector," Rep. Steube told the Examiner. "As the world continues to push past the boundaries of earth, it is critical that we preserve Florida's leadership role in the global space race."
Similarly, Representative Dan Webster (R-FL) said that "Florida is home to America's space industry. As home to the world’s premiere spaceport, it is critical that we strengthen the systems that support it." "By modernizing our airspace infrastructure and establishing a coordinated framework, we can ensure the second space race to the Moon and beyond launches first from Florida and not China," Rep. Webster continued.
In addition to Reps. Steube and Webster, the letter was signed by Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) and numerous Representatives.
The following is a list of the signers:
DEMOCRATS:
Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL)
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
REPUBLICANS:
Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL)
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL)
Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL)
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL)
Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL)
Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL)
Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL)
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL)
Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL)
Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL)
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL)
Rep. Brian Mast
Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL)
Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-FL)
Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL)
Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL)
