Colorado congressional delegation supports aerospace economy

Colorado is well-positioned to remain a leader in the aerospace and aeronautics industries, members of Colorado’s congressional delegation said March 17, 2008.

United States Senator Ken Salazar and Representative Mark Udall spoke to members of the Colorado Space Coalition (CSC), assuring the group they will continue to work diligently to protect Colorado’s stature as the second-largest space economy in the country. The CSC is a group of stakeholders in Colorado's space industry whose volunteer efforts support and promote the industry regionally and nationally, serving as the voice for Colorado’s space agenda.

Seven of the country’s top aerospace contractors have a presence in Colorado. Combined with aerospace research generated at our state’s universities—the Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State and University of Colorado—as well as departments of Defense, Commerce and State and federal research laboratories, our state is uniquely situated to attract jobs, the pair said. The aerospace industry supports over 170,000 direct and indirect jobs in Colorado.

Senator Salazar called Colorado the “crown jewel of our nation’s military and homeland security,” and praised the CSC for its work to promote and protect the aerospace and aeronautics industries. He assured the coalition that he and Udall will make sure the world knows that Colorado is open for business in these key industries.

“Your work is focused on one of the most important issues to our state,” Salazar said.

Representative Udall, who is the chairman of the Committee on Science Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, said much focus will need to fall on budgeting money for NASA, and he will look to groups including the Colorado Space Coalition for guidance. The challenge, he said, will be balancing all of the needs of the programs NASA supports.

“The aerospace industry is a source for great technology and great collaboration,” he said.

Input from the business community will also be needed as leaders look to make decisions on export controls, especially surrounding the aerospace industry and defense contractors, the pair said.

“We need to safeguard our secrets but I don’t think we need to inhibit our companies’ opportunities abroad,” Salazar said.

To learn more about the Colorado Space Coalition and its policies and priorities, go to www.spacecolorado.org.