U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and a bipartisan contingent of lawmakers unveiled the new U.S. Senate Space Force Caucus this week.
“This new caucus will be an important platform for us to work across the aisle to support the brave men and women who serve our country in the U.S. Space Force and their mission to advance American national security interests in the space domain,” Sen. Gardner said on Sept. 9.
Joining Sen. Gardner as caucus co-chairs are U.S. Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), who also invited their U.S. Senate colleagues to join the caucus in support of the sixth branch of the U.S. military.
“The Department of the Air Force looks forward to working with this new caucus to protect national interests and advance indispensable capabilities provided by the U.S. Space Force,” said U.S. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett.
Sen. Gardner noted that his home state will benefit from the caucus. “Colorado is the provisional headquarters of U.S. Space Command, the only state that is home to two Space Force garrisons, and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs is training and educating future Space Force leaders,” he said.
Senator Heinrich, saying he was proud to help form the caucus, also said the caucus will help his home state of New Mexico become a bigger part of the rapidly growing space economy. “I will continue fighting to create new opportunities for military installations across the state and ensure that New Mexico has a seat at the table while the U.S. Space Force continues to develop,” the senator said.
The Senate Space Force Caucus will maintain America’s advantage in space and protect the nation from foreign adversaries, said Sen. Cramer, who added that the caucus “will provide an avenue to craft bipartisan legislative ideas and further support America’s newest military branch.”
“Establishing the Space Force Caucus is an important first step toward finding common ground, supporting our national defense, and embarking on a new era of scientific discovery and innovation,” Sen. Sinema added.