Bennet to Meet the President Upon Arrival at Peterson Space Force Base This Evening
Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper released the following statement welcoming President Joe Biden to Colorado before he delivers the commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado Springs:
“We are pleased to welcome President Biden back to Colorado to deliver the commencement address for the 65th Air Force Academy graduation. The graduates of the Air Force Academy are the best and brightest, and we are forever grateful for their service to our nation.”
“Colorado plays a critical role in our country’s national security. Beyond the Air Force Academy, Colorado is home to the largest number of Space Force Deltas, three Space Force bases, and several specialized headquarters, including U.S. Space Command. Our state is the nexus of America’s defense and space missions, and boasts a highly-skilled civilian workforce, a robust defense industry, and several world-class universities.”
“As President Biden and his administration near a final basing decision for Space Command, we urge them to restore the integrity of this process and make a decision in the interest of our national security – to keep Space Command in Colorado Springs.”
Both men have been forceful and persuasive in their campaign to keep the new U.S. Space Command here in Colorado, at Peterson Airforce Base in Colorado Springs. Shortly before leaving office, former President Donald Trump announced that he was shifting the location of the new Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama.
Representative Doug Lamborn, a Republican with Peterson Airforce Base in his Colorado Springs district, has spoken out against the move, saying that moving the base to Alabama would set back Space Force operations “by four to six years.” He adds that “We cannot afford a self-imposed delay in Full Operational Capability (FOC), especially given the threats posed by China and Russia.”
The activation of the Space Command in Colorado is months ahead of schedule, with sources saying it will be fully operational by the end of summer. Colorado Springs is home to several armed forces bases, including Petersen Air Force Base, Schriever Air Force Base, Fort Carson, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, NORAD, and the Air Force Academy.
However, Congress is threatening to block funding for the move of the center due to the restrictive reproductive rights policies in place in Alabama and indeed in most states in the southeast. As NBC News reported today, a bipartisan effort began in Congress that saw both Republicans and Democrats rejecting funding decisions for new construction in Alabama.
Featured image: The Air Force Academy Chapel.Courtesy image.
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