Bill Nelson Allows 23,000 Space Jobs To Die

Fort Lauderdale, FL- As the Endeavor crew prepares for their final launch and mission this afternoon, I want to wish them well, offer them my prayers for a safe flight, and thank them for their service to our country.

When the final Shuttle launches this summer without a program to replace it, we will leave behind decades of scientific discovery and progress, as well as America’s unquestioned leadership in Space exploration.

Instead of continuing the Constellation program, America will now depend on the Russians to travel to the International Space Station.

America’s leadership in manned Space exploration is nearing its end and Floridians need to be mindful that the demise of the Space program came on the watch of President Barack Obama and Senator Bill Nelson.

For 50 years, under both Democrat and Republican presidents, American’s space program was fully supported. Now, under President Obama and Senator Nelson, the program has been put on life support.

Directionless, underfunded and without mission, America stands at risk to ceding its leadership in space to the Russians and Chinese.

Here at home, 23,000 of Florida’s best and brightest will lose their jobs, decimating the Space Coast region and a substantial portion of our state’s intellectual capital.

Florida needs a senator who will stand up to President Obama and push back against his plans to cripple our nation’s space program.

In 1961, President Kennedy gave America a goal with a deadline and the resources to achieve it—send a man to the moon and return him home safely by the end of the decade.

That is the kind of leadership America needs from its President and Florida needs from its Senator. We need a champion for our space program and American exceptionalism. I will never relent in the fight to save our space program.

Earlier this morning, my campaign started running online ads targeting those directly affected by Senator Nelson’s failed leadership. Those in attendance for today’s launch: NASA staff, their families, and visitors will see my campaign’s ads on their mobile devices. The ad (shown below) is being geographically targeted to the area around Cape Canaveral.

In addition, my campaign has created a web video to raise awareness and support for our space program.Take a moment to view the video here.

Please share this video on facebook, twitter, and via email with your family, friends, and co-workers. We need to make sure every Floridian knows the importance of manned space flight.