APPLAUDING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO POWER AMERICA'S SPACEFLIGHT INDUSTRY

APPLAUDING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO POWER AMERICA'S SPACEFLIGHT INDUSTRY

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)] [House] [Page H141] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] APPLAUDING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO POWER AMERICA'S SPACEFLIGHT INDUSTRY (Mr. HARIDOPOLOS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. HARIDOPOLOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in my first speech on the House floor to applaud the men and women powering America's spaceflight industry. I am a proud resident of Florida's Space Coast, the launchpad for America's journey to the stars since the early days of NASA. This is not just our past. It is our future. Madam Speaker, 2024 was a record-breaking year for the Space Coast, with 93 successful launches crossing our skies. In just the first few weeks of 2025, five more launches have taken place, proving that America's new golden age of spaceflight is alive and well. This renaissance has been powered by game-changing private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, whose ingenuity has turned spaceflight into a thriving ecosystem of public-private collaboration. Dominance in space is central to America's economic strength and military readiness. I am confident that with the leadership of Chairman Babin and President Trump, America will remain the global leader in space exploration and innovation. ____________________