U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville said today that, despite a coming review of the decision, Alabama will ultimately be home of the new headquarters of America’s Space Command. “Once they look at this, look at the money they’d have to spend to put it somewhere else, it’s obvious it will be there,” Tuberville told Alabama reporters in an issues briefing.
Tuberville has said the Air Force has told his staff in several meetings that Alabama ranked highest in the headquarters competition. “We knew that because of the chance of administrations it would be looked at,” Tuberville said, “but it was a merit-based decision.”
“The big thing is that Lloyd Austin, the new secretary of defense, supports how the Air Force handled the whole scenario of getting to the point of awarding it to Huntsville,” Tuberville said. “This wasn’t a political decision. This was a decision based on facts, based on money, the infrastructure we have in Huntsville, the cyber security that’s moving in with the FBI.”
Tuberville said it “would be a huge burden to the American taxpayer” to put the base elsewhere.
The former Auburn football coach turned senator told reporters he’s been touring the state “talking about the good and the bad” in various areas. He cited tours and meetings in several areas:
\u00b7 Fort Rucker at Montgomery, where he toured the base to learn its missions and needs
\u00b7 Mobile, where he met with community leaders about projects including a new bridge across Mobile Bay and an airport expansion. The Army Corp of Engineers briefed him on dredging the Port of Mobile “that’s Sen. (Richard) Shelby’s long, hard work paying off.”
Tuberville said COVID vaccinations are moving faster in the state, but it isn’t time to let up on wearing masks, social distancing and hand washing. Using his only football metaphor of the briefing to describe the pandemic response so far, Tuberville said, “When you’re running the ball well, keep on running.”
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