Space industry companies on Monday urged Congress not to cut funding to the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) in multiple letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe write today on behalf of more than 450 U.S. space, satellite, and defense companies to urge the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science to provide sufficient funding for the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill \u2013 specifically funding OSC at $65M, the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriated level,\u201d Monday letters signed onto by<\/u><\/a> multiple space-oriented organizations reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe also urge the Subcommittee to ensure continued execution of funds appropriated to OSC in Fiscal Year 2025,\u201d the letters continue.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the OSC\u2019s website<\/u><\/a>, it \u201cis the principal unit for space commerce policy activities within the Department of Commerce\u201d and the office\u2019s \u201cmission is to foster the conditions for the economic growth and technological advancement of the U.S. commercial space industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The letters were addressed to Sens. Jerry Moran\u2002<\/u><\/a>(R-Kan.) and Chris Van Hollen\u2002<\/u><\/a>(D-Md.), as well as Reps. Hal Rogers\u2002<\/u><\/a>(R-Ky.) and Grace Meng\u2002<\/u><\/a>(D-N.Y.), <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne of OSC\u2019s most important functions is to provide space traffic coordination support to U.S. satellite operators, similar to the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s role in air traffic control for the U.S. airline industry,\u201d the Monday letters read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHelping the U.S. space industry operate safely in an increasingly congested space domain ensures space-based services like broadband internet and weather forecasting are available to the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hill has reached out to the Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Moran\u2019s office, Van Hollen\u2019s office, Rogers\u2019s office and Meng\u2019s office for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n