If a member of Congress was ever qualified to speak up about the space program, I’d say Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) would fit the bill. In 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of Congress to travel into space (Sen. Jake Garn (R-UT) was the first). Now, in an effort to boost interest in commercial space ventures, Nelson has proposed the creation of business enterprise zones across the country which would offer tax breaks and other incentives to space-related businesses.
The Commercial Space Jobs and Investment Act, introduced by Nelson this week, would boost the rocket industry and attract jobs to Florida’s Space Coast.
The future of the US space program has appeared somewhat uncertain as the space shuttle program wraps up next year. In a shaky economy, Nelson and others worry about what this means for Florida and other space-industry areas. Providing tax incentives would, Nelson believes, promote growth. On his website, he stressed the importance of the space industry, saying, “President Kennedy was right when he predicted that space exploration would create a great number of new companies and strengthen our economy.”
To qualify for one of the space-related business enterprise zones under the bill, states would have to demonstrate that they had been affected by the loss of space jobs and that the infrastructure for continued space-related investment is already in place. Clearly, that puts Florida at the head of the line. It’s likely good news for Alabama, California, Texas – and possibly Virginia. Maryland, Mississippi, and Ohio may also be in the running.
Which states won’t benefit from the proposed tax credit? Well, Iowa, certainly. Nelson’s press secretary, Bryan Gulley, said about the state’s prospects, “You couldn’t do it in Iowa, or you couldn’t do it where there is no space industry and no high unemployment. Clearly, it’s intended to help communities where there already has been an established space industry, and communities where NASA already has a presence.” So take that, Iowa. And Rhode Island. And Maine. And, um, a bunch of other states…
