Reps. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., and Ken Calvert, R-Calif., led the introduction of a bill that would designate space products and services as critical infrastructure.
The lawmakers were joined on Thursday by Reps. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., in proposing the Space Infrastructure Act, which would place the sector under the protection of the Department of Homeland Security.
The inclusion of space among the critical sectors of infrastructure will help consolidate the collection and analysis of threat and security information, which are currently gathered separately from the 16 vital U.S. industries.
“Space is infrastructure,” Lieu stated. “So many things we rely on, such as navigation systems, banking, and communications systems, function with the help of technology in space. Designating space as a critical infrastructure sector would help ensure the industry receives the attention and resources it needs, thereby strengthening our national security.”
Lieu and Calvert are co-chairs of the California Aerospace Caucus.