News

Miami, FL – Tomorrow, August 19, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) will participate in an aerospace roundtable hosted by the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC), on the topic of the U.S. and Florida’s critical role in space leadership. Rubio will discuss his work to promote space as a vital national issue that warrants public and legislative attention, and talk with industry leaders about the progress of aerospace policy and making future endeavors successful.
 
Note: Senator Rubio will hold a media avail following the closed-door roundtable. For media interested in attending, please RSVP to Matt_Wolking@rubio.senate.gov.
 
Friday, August 19, 2016
Approximately 9:45 a.m. EDT
Rubio To Participate in EDC Aerospace Roundtable
Space Florida
505 Odyssey Way
Exploration Park, FL 32953
Background regarding Rubio’s work on behalf of Florida’s space leadership:
 
Rubio co-authored a bipartisan 2015 law to boost jobs in the commercial space industry 

• Rubio’s U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act was merged with the House’s SPACE Act into this law. The final legislation includes two Rubio proposals:
1. A provision creating license flexibility and enabling operators of commercial reusable launch vehicles to get more utility out of the experimental permits the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues for test flights; and
2. A provision facilitating commercial exploration and recovery of space resources; discouraging government barriers to U.S. development of viable industries for commercial exploration and recovery of space resources; promoting the right of U.S. citizens to engage in commercial exploration and recovery of space resources free from harmful interference; and establishing asteroid and space resources rights for commercial entities, creating investment certainty for future exploration of resources. 

• “Congress has finally approved a bill authorizing a modern commercial space industry, and advocates are hailing it as the open door that could lead to a rush of new ventures around Kennedy Space Center,” reported the Orlando Sentinel. “It creates a framework for so-called ‘new space’ companies such as Blue Origin, SpaceX and Sierra Nevada to pursue space ventures independently of NASA and the U.S. military. The U.S. Senate approved the bill last week, and President Barack Obama is expected to sign it.” (“Bill’s Passage Could Spur Space Business On Space Coast,” Orlando Sentinel, 11/17/2015)

•  “The bill was put together with bipartisan effort, with Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Posey of Rockledge, Democratic Sens. Bill Nelson of Florida and Patty Murray of Washington, and Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas doing much of the work.” (“Bill’s Passage Could Spur Space Business On Space Coast,” Orlando Sentinel, 11/17/2015)
•  “Along with Cruz, U.S. Rep. Bill Posey of Rockledge, Sens. Bill Nelson of Florida and Patty Murray of Washington, and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida had also worked on the bill.” (“US Congress Approves Bill That Could Spur Space Mining Industry,” Tech Times, 11/18/15)