U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Tommy Tuberville Introduce Resolution Recognizing Basing Decision for Space Command Headquarters in Huntsville
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) today announced the introduction of their resolution to recognize the fourth anniversary of the Secretary of the Air Force announcing Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred location for the U.S. Space Command Headquarters.
The resolution was originally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Dale Strong (R-Ala.).
“The headquarters of U.S. Space Command belongs on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, and our resolution recognizes the Air Force’s original decision,” said Senator Britt. “Huntsville finished first in both the Air Force’s Evaluation Phase and Selection Phase, leaving no doubt the Air Force’s decision to choose Redstone as the preferred basing location was correct purely on the merits. Huntsville’s selection should have remained in the Air Force’s purview, but instead the Biden Administration irresponsibly yanked the decision away. The time for partisan politics at the expense of our national security is over, and President Trump’s imminent return to the White House will ensure American interests are protected once again. Alabama’s world-class aerospace and defense workforce, capabilities, and synergies in Huntsville remain the best possible location to fulfill the mission and strengthen our national security long into the future.”
“Four years ago, the Secretary of the Air Force declared Huntsville, Alabama, as the best place for U.S. Space Command over six other locations considered. Multiple military leaders and studies have made it abundantly clear that SPACECOM’s rightful home is in Huntsville, but Joe Biden decided to let politics get in the way of what is best for our national security and defense. As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will continue fighting to bring SPACECOM to its rightful home. I’m honored to join my Alabama colleagues in this effort,” said Senator Tuberville.
The full text of the resolution can be viewed here.
Background:
On January 13, 2021, the U.S. Air Force announced Huntsville as its preferred location out of six candidate sites for U.S. Space Command. In May 2022, a report issued from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found Redstone Arsenal ranked as “the highest scoring location in the Evaluation Phase, the highest ranked location in the Selection Phase, and the location with the most advantages in the decision matrix.”
The GAO report continued, “Air Force officials, including the then Secretary of the Air Force, stated that the decision to identify Redstone Arsenal as the preferred location stemmed from Air Force analysis showing it was the strongest candidate location.”
Despite this, on July 31, 2023, President Biden made the politically motivated decision to block the United States Air Force from finalizing its decision to name Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as the permanent location for the headquarters of U.S. Space Command.
Senator Britt, along with the entire Alabama delegation, continues to reiterate her longstanding public stance that Redstone remains the best permanent HQ location for Space Command to advance America’s vital national security interests. Along with discussing this issue directly with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in a Senate Appropriations hearing, she and the Alabama House and Senate delegations met with General James H. Dickinson, Commander, U.S. Space Command to emphasize the importance of keeping politics out of the decision making process.
In Fiscal Year 2024 funding for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies which was signed into law in May of 2023, Senator Britt secured language that would require the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a report within 90 days of the bill’s enactment detailing all funds that have been spent or obligated towards the construction, renovation, and improvement of facilities for Space Command Headquarters.
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