1

Senate Resolution

2

A resolution recognizing the importance of Aerospace

3

Education in the State of Florida.

4

5

     WHEREAS, Florida currently ranks third in aerospace jobs,

6

employing approximately 148,000 Floridians earning annually an

7

average of $51,000, with wages totaling more than $7 billion, and

8

     WHEREAS, economically, Florida has been proactive in

9

mobilizing assets to secure Florida's existing high-technology

10

industry, in part through the creation of SPACE FLORIDA, and

11

     WHEREAS, Florida has a formidable position within the

12

aerospace industry given the state's strengths in space launch,

13

space research, and space vehicle manufacturing, and

14

     WHEREAS, Florida's economy currently faces a critical point

15

in which economic development opportunities abound, but so does

16

increasing global competition, particularly in the aerospace

17

industry, and

18

     WHEREAS, Florida is indeed the premier location for

19

aerospace business and investment, but the state must work hard

20

to maintain that position and even harder to develop growth in

21

this arena, and

22

     WHEREAS, aerospace is now a major global industry with

23

annual commercial revenues in excess of $340 billion, and the

24

space industry is becoming a significant global growth market as

25

businesses find more opportunities to harness space for a range

26

of commercial applications, and

27

     WHEREAS, the future economic prosperity of Florida depends

28

in large part on a vibrant aerospace and high-technology

29

industrial base, NOW, THEREFORE,

30

31

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

32

33

     That the Florida Senate recognizes the importance of

34

Aerospace Education and urges Florida business leaders,

35

researchers, educational institutions, and residents to take this

36

opportunity to focus on the coming challenges and work to make

37

Florida an even greater contributor in the development of the

38

aerospace industry.