Addressing the elephant in the Saturn Ballroom, U.S. Rep. Dale Strong said, “Space Command is coming to rest on the Arsenal.”
His remarks came Wednesday at the Von Braun Center during the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s annual Washington Update luncheon.
With more than 1,000 people on hand, Strong (R-Huntsville) highlighted his work in Congress to secure support for Redstone Arsenal, Marshall Space Flight Center, and the U.S. Space Command.
Calling it a “matter of national security,” Strong said the Space Command announcement would be coming in a matter of weeks.
“In the weeks ahead, it will be announced,” he said. “I have no reservation.”
Strong, who represents Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District, also provided insights into the battle over the location of the command responsible for military operations in outer space.
In July 2023, the Department of Defense announced that then-President Biden had selected Colorado Springs as the permanent location for U.S. Space Command headquarters, despite analyses that Redstone Arsenal would be the preferred location.
Crediting the Alabama congressional delegation, Strong said unified support has played a key role.
“I can tell you we have a great delegation,” he said. “I want to tip my hat to Senator Britt, Coach Tuberville, Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt, everybody in this delegation, Democrats and Republicans, have fought for Space Command to come to its rightful home because it’s right for national security.”
Strong said he had spoken to President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance about Redstone’s capabilities less than two weeks ago in the Oval Office. He also referenced a recent GAO report that confirmed, according to Air Force analyses, Redstone Arsenal is the best home for Space Command headquarters.
“Go take a go, take a little dive into that report,” said Strong. “It makes me proud to represent this community. We’re ready. Space Command is coming.”
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Strong also touted funding secured through the most recent appropriations package, which he called “a big beautiful bill, not a big perfect bill.” He said the legislation includes $100 million for infrastructure at Marshall Space Flight Center, as well as key protections for the SLS and Orion programs.
“There’s no other rocket that can do what SLS does,” he said. “I’m for competition, but I can tell you right now there’s no other rocket that can do what SLS does in heavy lift.”
Strong also referenced specific protective language in the bill.
“The language that we put in there, it said … the program must be equal to or greater than SLS before you can remove it,” said Strong. “So I think the language is probably as powerful as the money that we were able to get into that budget for.”
The congressman also praised the Trump administration on security and tariffs.
“Our Southern border is secure. Another promise made, another promise kept,” he said. “We’ve got to deal with that $37 trillion debt. There’s no doubt.
“You look at the trade deficit that this country has allowed to occur. It didn’t happen just in the last administration. This has occurred over 50 years. We’ve got countries that are our allies charging US 60-70% tariffs and we charge zero. That is changing.”
He described his early assignments to the House Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Science, Space and Technology Committees as “a trifecta” for representing North Alabama’s interests. Strong later accepted a position on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which positioned him to directly influence federal spending priorities.
“It’s about relationships,” he said. “It’s the same thing that you’ve got to do in Washington. I’m going to fight continuously for space exploration. I’m going to fight for national security. Because without each of those, we don’t have a country.”
The region’s workforce, capabilities, and educational opportunities featured heavily in Strong’s remarks.
“So what we’ve got to do is just continue to advocate what we’re doing, keep pushing for science and space, keep pushing it in our high schools, keep pushing it at UAH, Alabama A&M and keep recruiting from all over this country,” he said.
“Our greatest hours are still ahead.”
Courtesy of 256 Today
