Florida Today - Our views: Stay on offensive (March 25)


Thursday, March 25, 2010

Progress in Legislature, local lobbying in D.C. keeping focus on space

By Florida Today Opinion Section

The fate of NASA’s future rests in Washington, where President Obama’s plan to change the agency’s direction will play out over the next several months.

Space Coast residents will learn more April 15, when Obama comes here amid calls in Congress to extend shuttle flights a few more years and revive the canceled Constellation moon program to stave off the estimated loss of 23,000 local jobs.

The action in the capital, however, doesn’t preclude the need for strong pro-space moves in Tallahassee, where recent days have seen the issue gain traction in the Legislature.

It’s essential the momentum be maintained to prepare our community and Florida for whatever comes next, and to send a loud signal to competing states and nations that Florida is serious about making a commitment to attract and grow new space business.

The boost came when legislation that would increase funding for Space Florida, the state’s space-recruiting arm, passed a major hurdle when a Senate committee overwhelmingly approved a broad jobs bill that contains money that would help the Space Coast attract commercial space companies.

That’s central to Obama’s call to use private rockets to launch cargo and astronauts and create a more business-friendly climate at Cape Canaveral.

The package includes:

  • $3.2 million to retrain shuttle workers who will lose their jobs.
  • $10 million for two new launch service companies and a new payload company at Kennedy Space Center.
  • Granting Space Florida flexibility to use $10.8 million remaining from 2008 originally pegged to redevelop Launch Complex 36 for areas such as improving KSC as a location for commercial space firms.

Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, played a key role ushering the measure through, and should use his influence to make sure the funds don’t wind up on the cutting-room floor.

He’s also working with Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, to get another $12.4 million for infrastructure projects at KSC’s Exploration Park that could lure companies and create jobs tied to the International Space Station and other projects.

Brevard delegation members in the House—including GOP Reps. Steve Crisafulli and Ritch Workman—are pursuing similar legislation in that chamber.

It’s imperative Brevard lawmakers convince members from around the state to approve the full $32.6 million funding request for Space Florida that Gov. Crist is requesting and get it OK’d in the final budget.

It’s vital to the future.

Meanwhile, Brevard County officials are ramping up their grass-roots movement as a small contingent journeys to Capitol Hill and meets today with members of Congress.

They’re part of a united front from other states with major NASA facilities—Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia and Ohio—who are also knocking on doors seeking NASA support.

“We have one message—fund human space exploration,” says Melissa Stain, president and CEO of the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

County Commissioner Robin Fisher of Titusville is part of the group with a far larger number from Brevard and other NASA states returning in May.

Maintaining a robust human spaceflight program is essential to our community, state and nation, and not a moment can be lost in the multipronged offensive under way to make sure that happens.