Sykes, Miller, Brown, Rubio Introduce New Bipartisan Bill To Advance Innovation, Increase Collaboration Between Aerospace Industry And NASA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Max Miller (OH-07), along with U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), introduced the NASA Talent Exchange Program Act to spur innovation and foster partnership between the aerospace industry and NASA by assigning NASA employees to temporary industry posts and welcoming industry professionals into NASA for short term positions. The new legislation will establish the Public Private Talent Exchange Program (PPTE) within NASA to help partnership opportunities between government and aerospace businesses.
“The road back to the moon and to Mars runs directly through Ohio – that’s why I’m proud to introduce this important legislation with Rep. Max Miller, Sen. Sherrod Brown, and Sen. Marco Rubio,” said Rep. Sykes. “Our bill will allow NASA to better fulfill its missions by authorizing a public-private talent exchange program, through which NASA and private industry professionals will have the chance to exchange technical expertise and operational best practices, ensuring that America’s space and aerospace industry remains the best and most innovative in the world.”
“The days of a giant government program dominating the space industry are over,” said Rep. Miller. “Today, NASA and industry are driving technological developments that will carry the U.S. into the future, and this legislation is going to make it easier for them to work together more collaboratively on critical projects.”
“The story of modern aviation was written in Ohio – and this bill will help ensure that we continue to lead the country into the next frontier,” said Sen. Brown. “By spurring collaboration between NASA and our aerospace businesses, we will ensure that Ohio workers are the ones creating the technologies of the future.”
“From Apollo to Artemis, space exploration is fueled by NASA’s ingenuity and the dynamism of its private sector partners,” said Sen. Rubio. “The partnerships lower costs and are crucial to maintaining American leadership in space. I am proud to introduce the NASA Talent Exchange Program Act to continue cultivating vital partnerships to unlock the potential of American innovation.”
The Public Private Talent Exchange Program would be a professional development program focused on giving NASA and industry professionals an opportunity to gain exposure and experience in a number of areas. The exchanges will last between three months to two years with options to extend for an additional year.
The Program is modeled after a similar initiative that the Department of Defense has operated since 2018. That program allowed the Department of Defense to forge partnerships with private sector companies and swap business practices for the betterment of both parties.
Rep. Sykes is a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. She is also a member of the bipartisan House Aerospace Caucus, which works to maintain U.S. global aerospace leadership, highlight the critical work that organizations and employees perform, engage members and staff on challenges facing the industry, and address legislative issues impacting aerospace.