Duval Times

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and a group of colleagues have reintroduced the Space National Guard Establishment Act of 2024, a bill aimed at creating a Space National Guard. This move comes after the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 called for a study to determine the future of Air National Guard units involved in U.S. Space Force missions.

Currently, these Air National Guard units are housed under the U.S. Air Force. The proposed bill seeks to establish a separate Space National Guard, which would not only improve military readiness and efficiency but also ensure that the Space Force can retain the necessary talent.

Senator Rubio expressed his support for the bill, stating, "Creating a Space National Guard would boost military readiness and efficiency. It would also ensure that the Space Force retains needed talent. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this common-sense bill."

The bill has garnered bipartisan support, with Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), James Risch (R-ID), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) serving as original cosponsors.

This is not the first time such a proposal has been put forward. In 2022, the late U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Rubio co-authored an op-ed expressing the importance of creating a Space National Guard. Their article emphasized the need for a dedicated force to address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by space operations.

With the reintroduction of the Space National Guard Establishment Act of 2024, Senator Rubio and his colleagues are continuing their push to make this vision a reality. By establishing a Space National Guard, the United States would be taking a significant step in ensuring its readiness and capability in the rapidly evolving domain of space.