Brown, Wittman Introduce Legislation To Study And Improve Spaceport National Security

Statement

Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) introduced the Spaceport Tiering for Access Resiliency or "STAR" Act. Modernized spaceports and increased space travel offer important new scientific, economic, and national security opportunities, and American infrastructure needs to be ready.

Space has become an increasingly important consideration in national security planning and geopolitical competition. American spaceports are essential infrastructure in this new frontier and need to be studied for vulnerabilities and necessary improvements to protect national security, as well as economic and military capabilities.

"Quality, modern infrastructure is essential to our national security. Not do 21st-century roads, bridges, airports, and seaports bolster our overall readiness, but newer pieces of infrastructure like spaceports are absolutely critical to national security preparation," said Congressman Anthony Brown. "We need to be ready to compete and act in a rapidly evolving security landscape. This legislation will ensure our military and transportation officials are planning for the long term."

Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) is a lead co-sponsor of this legislation.

The STAR Act would require a study on the resiliency of space access infrastructure to meet national security requirements. Additionally, the legislation would require a plan for developing spaceports in the United States and an establishment of an improvement plan to modernize space access infrastructure.

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