Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Adam Smith, D-Wash., led a U.S. delegation on a trip to France, Italy and Luxembourg to discuss cooperation on the National Security Space initiative.
In a statement following the trip, the two lawmakers said that with the increasing number of threats targeting the United States, the government needs to collaborate with like-minded nations to openly discuss partnerships and realign their resources to respond to threats affecting national security. The House Armed Services Committee is among the first organizations to recognize the growing space threats coming from China and Russia, and it has since continued working to improve the nation’s capabilities to address such threats.
The delegation also included Reps. Donald Norcross, D-N.J., Gary Palmer, R-Ala., Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., Stephanie Bice, R-Okla. and Veronica Escobar, D-Texas.
Rogers, who helped create the U.S. Space Force, has advocated for years to improve the country’s presence and capabilities in space.