WASHINGTON — Today, Mary Guenther, Head of Space Policy at the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), issued the following statement regarding the Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act introduced by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.):
“PPI applauds this bipartisan group of legislators for coming together to help make the satellite industry more globally competitive through regulatory streamlining. As highlighted in PPI’s recent publication, ‘Competing for the Upper Hand in the Ultimate High Ground: The Modern Space Race Between the U.S. and China,’ the United States is in a strategic power competition with China, and a number of satellite services are critical to maintaining our technological leadership. Our current regulatory system for space is disjointed and overly burdensome, which makes it challenging for the innovative commercial space sector to out-innovate China.
“Beyond their significance to maintaining competitiveness with China, satellite services improve the lives of Americans every day by expanding access to internet connectivity, providing weather information, getting farmers the insights they need to be more productive, and enhancing national security.
“This bipartisan bill would take an important step toward simplifying the regulatory environment for the space industry and helping the United States remain the leader in space, which benefits all Americans.”
Founded in 1989, PPI is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Find an expert and learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org. Follow us @ppi.
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Media Contact: Ian O’Keefe – iokeefe@ppionline.org
