REP LIEU JOINS VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS FOR VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE VISIT

LOS ANGELES – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after visiting the Vandenberg Space Force Base with Vice President Kamala Harris and other elected and military leaders on Monday.

"I was honored to join the Vice President, elected officials and military members at the Vandenberg Space Force Base yesterday. As Co-Chair of the California Aerospace Caucus, I was pleased to hear the Vice President reaffirm this Administration's commitment to prioritizing both civilian and military space.

"I commend Vice President Harris for calling on Russia and China to stop their anti-satellite missile tests, and for announcing that the U.S. will not conduct such tests. Satellites from all nations can be adversely affected by space debris. Anti-satellite missile tests result in thousands of pieces of dangerous debris and it is important that the United States lead the effort to end this practice."

"California plays a vital role in U.S. space operations. California – and southern California in particular – has a deep bench of talent in the aerospace field. Los Angeles County is home to not only the Space Systems Command at the Los Angeles Air Force Base, but to experts and industry leaders in all things space. "

Background on Southern California and Aerospace:

The Space Systems Command is located at the Los Angeles Air Force Base, in Congressman Lieu's district. In 2021, LA AFB was designated as home to the headquarters of Space Systems Command, which is tasked with overseeing all efforts to develop, acquire, launch, and sustain military space systems. SSC is one of three major commands under the U.S. Space Force.

Southern California plays a leading role as an aerospace hub based on a unique ecosystem including the base, the Aerospace Corporation (a federally-funded research and development center), outstanding research universities, and leading aerospace companies and startups.

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