Several of Alabama's congressional leaders have wasted no time in the new Republican-controlled Congress renewing the push to make Huntsville the permanent location for U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM).
On Monday, U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), along with U.S. Reps. Dale Strong (R-Monrovia), Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) and Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) pushed a resolution recognizing Monday as the fourth anniversary of the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force naming Redstone Arsenal the best place for SPACECOM.
Trump selected Huntsville after the U.S. Air Force announced on January 13, 2021, that Huntsville would be the best-suited location for SPACECOM out of six candidate locations. Colorado came fifth among the suggested locations.
In what many in Washington have interpreted as a politically motivated move, the Biden administration decided in 2023 to select Colorado as the headquarters for the SPACECOM location, despite the previous Trump administration selecting Huntsville.
An NBC News report at the time claimed multiple U.S. officials claimed Biden was working to undo a Trump-era decision to move Space Command to Alabama due to the state's abortion laws.
"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," Tuberville said. "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."
With Trump winning a second term in November, Alabama's leaders have all but assured Alabamians that SPACECOM would be coming back to Huntsville.
"The headquarters of U.S. Space Command belongs on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, and our resolution recognizes the Air Force's original decision," Britt said. "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."
Monday's resolution was initially proposed in the House by Strong and joined by many of Alabama's federal delegation.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again: Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, is the best possible location for U.S. Space Command," Strong said. "This isn't an opinion or a preference, it is a fact, supported by the basing process, which was proven credible and fair in two separate investigations. Four years ago today, under President Trump's leadership, the Air Force announced Redstone Arsenal would host the headquarters, only for President Biden to subsequently slow roll the move and force the headquarters to stay at the fifth best location. I have been involved with this basing process since day one, first as Chairman of the Madison County Commission, and for the past two years as your Congressman. It is my sincere hope that President Trump and his incoming administration will return to the facts and focus on what is best for our national security."
The resolution commends Trump for completing a "robust and fact-based process" in selecting Huntsville as the initial candidate and condemns the Biden administration for reneging on Trump's move.
"This resolution recognizes that decision and condemns the Biden Administration's partisan move to disregard what is best for national security," Moore said. "I am committed to working with President Trump to bring Space Command back to its rightful home in Huntsville, Alabama."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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