Florida Steps Up for Space
By Sen. Mike Haridopolos
“We cannot cede our leadership in space. That’s why I’m going to close the gap, ensure that our space program doesn’t suffer when the shuttle goes out of service…. by continuing to support NASA funding, by speeding the development of the shuttle’s successor, by making sure that all those who work in the space industry in Florida do not lose their jobs when the shuttle is retired, because we can’t afford to lose their expertise.”
Presidential Candidate Barack Obama
August 2, 2008, Brevard Community College – Titusville
When then-candidate Barack Obama visited Brevard County in August 2008, he made a clear promise to the Space Coast and to all Americans that our space program would be a priority of his administration. So when he visited again on April 15, 2010 with a different proposal, it became disappointingly clear that our leaders in Washington had turned their backs on the promises of the last election.
Despite Washington’s inaction, Florida’s Legislature has strengthened its commitment to making sure that our region remains the world’s premier spaceport. Our goal has always been to ensure that Florida continues to lead the world in space and that we do not lose badly needed jobs to other states.
Once again this year, Florida has stepped up to attract high-tech, high-wage jobs that can help to ease the effects of the shuttle’s retirement. Despite a very tight budget year, the Legislature secured more than $31 million in space support funding. Our state-level package provides:
$7.5 million for roads in Exploration Park—an investment that will bring in $98 million in private investment for facilities and 1,725 new jobs
$10 million in financing assistance for two new launch service providers and the expansion of an existing payload preparation company
$3.2 million for job retraining programs for shuttle workers
$3 million for development and recruitment of new businesses
$3.6 million to upgrade facilities at Launch Complex 46 for additional Air Force launches
full funding for Space Florida operations
facilitation of over 2,700 jobs in the area
flexibility to finance new space businesses and sustained industry growth
Strong support for the space community at the state level is not new. Over the past decade, our efforts have yielded real results, including:
$35 million under Gov. Jeb Bush to refurbish the Vehicle Assembly Building, supporting nearly 500 jobs that traditionally would have gone to other states
$26.8 million in 2004 for the construction of the Space Life Sciences Lab, which has facilitated invaluable research and development
coordination with the Air Force to open the launch range
$14 million in 2008 to begin the redevelopment of Launch Complex 36
Clearly, Florida stepped up, but unfortunately we cannot solve this problem on our own. While freshman lawmakers like Bill Posey have worked hard in the minority to push the administration keep their word, what we have seen in the 22 months since the president’s promise in Titusville has been anything but “closing the gap.” Instead, we have seen a failure of commitment and leadership on the part of the president and our state’s senior senator, who should be using his position as a member of the majority party and as the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space to pressure President Obama to keep his pledge.
It is truly disappointing during a time of record unemployment to watch President Obama far outspend any other first-year president ($3.52 trillion in 2009) but do so little to stem the pending loss of 23,000 quality jobs for hard working Floridians. The Space Coast asks only that the president and our leaders in Washington keep their promises to support a space program that has given our nation and the world so much.
