Lamborn and Horn
Reps. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) and Kendra Horn (D-Okla.) discuss space policy issues, including NASA's budget proposal, at the Space Foundation's "State of Space" event Feb. 12. Credit: SpaceNews/Jeff Foust

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force got a political boost Oct. 20 with the announcement that a bipartisan group of House members formed a Space Force Caucus to advocate on behalf of the military’s newest service.

Reps. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Kendra Horn (D-Okla.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), and Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) are the inaugural members and co-chairs.

“This caucus will serve as the chief advocate for our nation’s exciting new service, and work closely with the Department of the Air Force and the Space Force to provide opportunities for members and their staff to learn about the vital role the U.S. Space Force plays in maintaining American space power,” Lamborn said in a statement.

“Maintaining superiority in space is essential to protecting our national security and U.S. interests around the world,” Horn said. “I look forward to working with the Air Force and Space Force leadership and my co-chairs to advocate for the importance of space priorities and the needs of our Space Force professionals.”

The standup of the House Space Force Caucus follows the creation last month of a Senate Space Force Caucus led by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).

Lamborn and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in 2015 formed the House Space Power Caucus to educate members on the role of space in national security.

Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense...