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CSC briefs congressional delegation on space priorities

On August 27, 2010, the Colorado Space Coalition (CSC) sponsored a Congressional Briefing Breakfast on the importance of aerospace to Colorado's economy. The event took place at the Colorado School of Mines, a leader in space research and home to the 8th Continent Project--a business incubator, funding network, and research center for entrepreneurial aerospace.

CSC Co-Chairs Lt. Governor Barbara O'Brien, Major General Andy Love (Ret.), and Tom Marsh, retired executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems, hosted the briefing to provide industry updates, advocate for aerospace growth in Colorado, and demonstrate the state's critical role in ensuring the United States maintains its global leadership in space.

Four members of Colorado's Congressional Delegation--U.S. Reps. Ed Perlmutter and Jared Polis and U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and Senator Mark Udall--attended and gave updates on legislative activities and federal funding centered on aerospace. More than 35 CSC members participated in an active dialog with the political leaders.

Udall discussed national space policy and NASA funding priorities. "As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the former chairman of the House Space Subcommittee, I strongly believe that access to space is critical to our national security. And since Colorado is so well positioned to thrive in the 21st century space industry, I look forward to supporting our important yet diverse space missions," Udall said.

Colorado has nation's third-largest aerospace economy and eight of the nation's top aerospace contractors have significant operations in the state. Along with major Department of Defense facilities and NASA research activities, the state's universities are among the world's best for aerospace engineering.

Bennet commented that the industry is crucial to Colorado's economic recovery. "We must work now to ensure that in the next decades Colorado's aerospace industry leads the nation," he said.

In his remarks, Perlmutter reiterated his opposition to the cancellation of the Constellation program, and in particular, the Orion Crew Capsule currently being developed by Lockheed Martin Space Systems. Perlmutter credited the retention of the Orion program to the "team effort" of Colorado's Congressional Delegation and stressed the need for the Delegation's ongoing support of Orion.

Polis said there is "great room to cooperate" among the state's congressional leaders to support the aerospace industry, saying he focuses on strategies to build a 21st century workforce. "State funding for higher education is a concern and will hinder our competitiveness if we can't find a solution," explained Polis.

The CSC's co-chairs and members urged the congressional delegation to continue to support NASA funding, support strategies to develop a 21st century aerospace workforce, promote and advance Colorado's aerospace assets through participation in Congressional caucuses and committees, reduce unnecessary licensing and export restrictions, and to support Colorado's military and civilian space resources and programs.

About the Colorado Space Coalition: The Colorado Space Coalition (CSC) is a partnership among members of the private sector, the state of Colorado, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce/Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, several economic-development agencies, the Colorado Space Business Roundtable, higher education institutions, and other stakeholders. The CSC works to enhance and build on our diverse company base to keep Colorado as a center of excellence for space and expand the state' as the best place for aerospace companies to locate and thrive.

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