Press ReleaseNeutral2026-04-22

Congressmen Cuellar, Castro Champion JBSA-Lackland as Top Candidate for SPACEFOR-CYBER Mission

TaxesEnvironmentDefenseTechnologyInfrastructure

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This press release from Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was published on 2026-04-22 and titled "Congressmen Cuellar, Castro Champion JBSA-Lackland as Top Candidate for SPACEFOR-CYBER Mission". It focuses on taxes and touches on the environment, defense.

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Congressmen Cuellar, Castro Champion JBSA-Lackland as Top Candidate for SPACEFOR-CYBER Mission

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressmen Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and a senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, welcomed the Department of the Air Force’s decision to name Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland as a candidate location for the SPACEFOR-CYBER mission and highlighted the region’s strategic role in cybersecurity and national defense. The Air Force continues evaluating JBSA-Lackland alongside Fort George G. Meade to host a critical component supporting U.S. Cyber Command. The designation reflects San Antonio’s strong cyber workforce, advanced infrastructure, and leadership in military and intelligence operations. If selected, the mission would generate new jobs, expand economic activity, and support long-term investment across South Texas. The effort would also strengthen the defense industrial base and reinforce supply chain resilience - key priorities that support military readiness. “As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee and a senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I’ve fought for investments that strengthen our military and support our communities,” said Congressman Cuellar. “San Antonio already anchors the Air Force’s cyber operations through the 16th Air Force at Lackland and continues to expand its cyber ecosystem with assets like Port San Antonio’s Cyber Innovation Center and the University of Texas at San Antonio’s National Security Collaboration Center. With a strong pipeline of talent and growing demand for cyber professionals nationwide, our region offers the workforce, infrastructure, and mission alignment needed to support SPACEFOR-CYBER. This opportunity would create jobs, drive investment, and strengthen our nation’s ability to respond to evolving cyber threats, and I’ll keep advocating for South Texas to lead in national security and innovation.” “San Antonio is a national leader in cybersecurity and home to the second largest cybersecurity workforce. For years, my hometown, Military City, U.S.A. has invested millions in Joint Base San Antonios (JBSA)’s infrastructure’s projects, and in Congress I’ve pushed to protect JBSA. Our large cyber-workforce, UT San Antonio's strong cyber presence, and our community’s readiness to work with the joint forces makes San Antonio the right selection for SPACEFOR-CYBER. I will push the Department of the Air Force to make San Antonio its new home,” said Congressman Castro. San Antonio stands as one of the nation’s leading cybersecurity hubs, with a large concentration of cyber professionals supported by military, intelligence, industry, and academic partners. The region’s capabilities position it to support advanced cyber operations and contribute to national defense priorities. ### Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. is a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Previously, he served as a Texas State Representative and Texas Secretary of State. Sign up to receive Dr. Cuellar’s Email Newsletters . Click here for Dr. Cuellar's Facebook , X , or YouTube Channel . Los congresistas Cuellar y Castro impulsan a JBSA-Lackland como principal candidato para la misión SPACEFOR-CYBER. Miembros de San Antonio resaltan beneficios para la seguridad nacional y el crecimiento económico en el sur de Texas WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hoy, los congresistas Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), miembro de mayor rango del Subcomité de Asignaciones de la Cámara sobre Seguridad Nacional y miembro senior del Subcomité de Defensa, y Joaquin Castro (TX-20), miembro de mayor rango del Subcomité del Hemisferio Occidental del Comité de Asuntos Exteriores de la Cámara, dieron la bienvenida a la decisión del Departamento de la Fuerza Aérea de nombrar a la Base Conjunta San Antonio-Lackland como ubicación candidata para la misión SPACEFOR-CYBER y destacaron el papel estratégico de la región en ciberseguridad y defensa nacional. La Fuerza Aérea continúa evaluando a JBSA-Lackland junto con Fort George G. Meade para albergar un componente crítico que apoye al Comando Cibernético de Estados Unidos. Esta designación refleja la sólida fuerza laboral en ciberseguridad de San Antonio, su infraestructura avanzada y su liderazgo en operaciones militares y de inteligencia. De ser seleccionada, esta misión generaría nuevos empleos, impulsaría la actividad económica y apoyaría la inversión a largo plazo en el sur de Texas. Este esfuerzo también fortalecería la base industrial de defensa y reforzaría la resiliencia de la cadena de suministro, prioridades clave para mantener la preparación militar. “Como miembro de mayor rango del Subcomité de Asignaciones sobre Seguridad Nacional y miembro senior del Subcomité de Defensa, he luchado por inversiones que fortalezcan a nuestras fuerzas armadas y apoyen a nuestras com

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Congressmen Cuellar, Castro Champion JBSA-Lackland as Top Candidate for SPACEFOR-CYBER Mission WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressmen Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and a senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, welcomed the Department of the Air Force’s decision to name Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland as a candidate location for the SPACEFOR-CYBER mission and highlighted the region’s strategic role in cybersecurity and national defense. The Air Force continues evaluating JBSA-Lackland alongside Fort George G. Meade to host a critical component supporting U.S. Cyber Command. The designation reflects San Antonio’s strong cyber workforce, advanced infrastructure, and leadership in military and intelligence operations. If selected, the mission would generate new jobs, expand economic activity, and support long-term investment across South Texas. The effort would also strengthen the defense industrial base and reinforce supply chain resilience - key priorities that support military readiness. “As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee and a senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I’ve fought for investments that strengthen our military and support our communities,” said Congressman Cuellar. “San Antonio already anchors the Air Force’s cyber operations through the 16th Air Force at Lackland and continues to expand its cyber ecosystem with assets like Port San Antonio’s Cyber Innovation Center and the University of Texas at San Antonio’s National Security Collaboration Center. With a strong pipeline of talent and growing demand for cyber professionals nationwide, our region offers the workforce, infrastructure, and mission alignment needed to support SPACEFOR-CYBER. This opportunity would create jobs, drive investment, and strengthen our nation’s ability to respond to evolving cyber threats, and I’ll keep advocating for South Texas to lead in national security and innovation.” “San Antonio is a national leader in cybersecurity and home to the second largest cybersecurity workforce. For years, my hometown, Military City, U.S.A. has invested millions in Joint Base San Antonios (JBSA)’s infrastructure’s projects, and in Congress I’ve pushed to protect JBSA. Our large cyber-workforce, UT San Antonio's strong cyber presence, and our community’s readiness to work with the joint forces makes San Antonio the right selection for SPACEFOR-CYBER. I will push the Department of the Air Force to make San Antonio its new home,” said Congressman Castro. San Antonio stands as one of the nation’s leading cybersecurity hubs, with a large concentration of cyber professionals supported by military, intelligence, industry, and academic partners. The region’s capabilities position it to support advanced cyber operations and contribute to national defense priorities. ### Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. is a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Previously, he served as a Texas State Representative and Texas Secretary of State. Sign up to receive Dr. Cuellar’s Email Newsletters . Click here for Dr. Cuellar's Facebook , X , or YouTube Channel . Los congresistas Cuellar y Castro impulsan a JBSA-Lackland como principal candidato para la misión SPACEFOR-CYBER. Miembros de San Antonio resaltan beneficios para la seguridad nacional y el crecimiento económico en el sur de Texas WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hoy, los congresistas Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), miembro de mayor rango del Subcomité de Asignaciones de la Cámara sobre Seguridad Nacional y miembro senior del Subcomité de Defensa, y Joaquin Castro (TX-20), miembro de mayor rango del Subcomité del Hemisferio Occidental del Comité de Asuntos Exteriores de la Cámara, dieron la bienvenida a la decisión del Departamento de la Fuerza Aérea de nombrar a la Base Conjunta San Antonio-Lackland como ubicación candidata para la misión SPACEFOR-CYBER y destacaron el papel estratégico de la región en ciberseguridad y defensa nacional. La Fuerza Aérea continúa evaluando a JBSA-Lackland junto con Fort George G. Meade para albergar un componente crítico que apoye al Comando Cibernético de Estados Unidos. Esta designación refleja la sólida fuerza laboral en ciberseguridad de San Antonio, su infraestructura avanzada y su liderazgo en operaciones militares y de inteligencia. De ser seleccionada, esta misión generaría nuevos empleos, impulsaría la actividad económica y apoyaría la inversión a largo plazo en el sur de Texas. Este esfuerzo también fortalecería la base industrial de defensa y reforzaría la resiliencia de la cadena de suministro, prioridades clave para mantener la preparación militar. “Como miembro de mayor rango del Subcomité de Asignaciones sobre Seguridad Nacional y miembro senior del Subcomité de Defensa, he luchado por inversiones que fortalezcan a nuestras fuerzas armadas y apoyen a nuestras com