STRDI Moves To State House Floor For Consideration

The Florida House Economic Development and Community Affairs Policy Council unanimously passed this week a bill to help keep Florida at the forefront of cutting edge space technology. That bill is co-sponsored by State Representative Dorothy L. Hukill (R-Port Orange) and Senator Evelyn Lynn (R-District 7).

House Bill 69 creates a multiuniversity institute that would provide research and development of new space technologies. As ANN reported earlier this month, the proposed Space Transportation Research & Development Institute (STRDI) will partner with the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, and other federal agencies in pioneering new space transportation technology.

STRDI will also work closely with academic institutions throughout the state, including Embry-Riddle, to provide groundbreaking research.

Hukill asserts House Bill 69 will better position Florida to remain the world leader in new space research and technology, as the state -- and NASA -- face a critical crossroads. "This legislation not only provides for state-of-the-art space research, it creates and saves jobs," she said. "We have the brightest people in the country working right here in our own backyard. Florida can't afford to lose these high-tech jobs."

The bill has been cosponsored by 28 other House Members. House Bill 69 now heads to the House floor.

FMI: www.dorothyhukill.com/, www.erau.edu