Michael Waltz

A war with any level of attrition in the Pacific could quickly turn catastrophic without sufficient warships, combat logistics vessels, and merchant ships. Outnumbered and without the capacity to replace, refuel, and provision our troops, we would struggle to deliver victory.

Doing nothing in the face of aggression is how World War III will eventually start.

China's growing military strength presents us with a peer adversary for the first time since the Cold War that can threaten our air superiority, compete with us technologically, and deny or even control our traditional blue water spaces.

Our banking, stock market and modern global logistics systems - not to mention the military - are all dependent on space assets.

Every time you check the weather, search for a spot to grab your morning coffee or send a text message, you're getting hands-on with the space industry. Space doesn't just impact our personal lives though - it affects our national security too.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, in Georgia and the Persian Gulf, our adversaries have gained immense advantage with gray zone warfare, irregular and unconventional operations below the threshold of conventional war, complicating legal questions and policy responses.