WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet introduced an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would strike language added by U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville blocking funding for any U.S. Space Command military construction projects and freezing 50 percent of Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s travel budget until a final basing decision on the permanent headquarters location of Space Command is made – a blatant attempt to hold the military hostage and force a decision in Alabama’s favor.
“Making it harder for Space Command to do its job while we’re facing unprecedented threats is exactly what our adversaries want. We shouldn’t risk our national security for the sake of narrow political interests,” said Hickenlooper.
“Senator Tuberville’s attempts to restrict Pentagon funding are harming our military readiness and national security – and this legislative hostage-taking must stop. I urge the Biden Administration to swiftly make a final basing decision for the U.S. Space Command headquarters based on our national security, not politics,” said Bennet.
The Senate released details of its version of the NDAA last week, which included Tuberville’s language to halt funding for Space Command construction and freeze a portion of Kendall’s travel budget. The provision was added by Tuberville in a closed markup of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The initial procedural vote for a full Senate vote on the NDAA occurred this week.
U.S. Space Command has been provisionally based in Colorado Springs since 2019 and is awaiting a final basing decision.
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