Note: This analysis uses AI to help identify potential outreach strategies for space science issues. Because it uses AI, it is important to understand the sources and limitations of this analysis.
Space-related committee assignments (if present), and additional sources (if present), are from congress.gov and a direct output of a targeted web search.
Opportunities, challenges, overall summary, and preparation recommendations are products of AI analyses. The biography uses AI to summarize key aspects of the member's Wikipedia page.
All AI-generated claims, assessments, and recommendations should be independently verified.
This is an experimental feature, and intended to provide guidance and inspiration for outreach strategies for your meeting. Feedback is welcome: casey.dreier@planetary.org.
Overall Summary
Representative Fine's fiscal conservative stance and stated priorities on reducing government spending suggest he may be cautious about increasing federal discretionary spending for NASA science, especially given the proposed FY26 budget cuts. His lack of a relevant committee assignment also limits his direct influence on NASA's budget and policy decisions. Furthermore, his past skepticism regarding climate science could make advocacy for NASA's Earth science programs particularly challenging.
Despite these hurdles, there are opportunities for engagement. His district benefits directly from significant NASA science grants to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for heliophysics and planetary science research, demonstrating a clear local economic and academic impact. His background, with parents in science and engineering and his own tech industry experience, may foster an appreciation for scientific endeavors, and his prior representation of the Space Coast indicates familiarity with the broader space sector's importance.
Preparation Recommendations
Consider highlighting the specific NASA science grants received by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in his district, connecting these local investments to the STEM education values likely instilled by his parents.
Explore how increased NASA science investment can directly support economic growth and high-tech job creation within his district, aligning with his background in business and the region's aerospace industry.
Look into how NASA's space science activities, such as those at Embry-Riddle, contribute to the broader U.S. space enterprise and maintain the Space Coast's leadership, a sector he knows well from his previous legislative service.
About Randy Fine
Holds a B.A. in government and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.
Father was an engineering professor; mother was a science teacher.
Former executive and consultant in the casino gambling and tech industries.
Served in the Florida House and Senate, representing Brevard County/Cape Canaveral.
Elected U.S. Representative for Florida's 6th congressional district in 2025.
Opportunities
Local NASA Science Investment: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in his district received multiple NASA grants totaling over $7.5 million for heliophysics and planetary science research, indicating direct federal investment in space science within FL-06. (USAspending, FY2022-FY2024)
Space Coast Representation: Representative Fine previously served in the Florida Legislature representing Brevard County, home to Cape Canaveral, a critical hub for NASA's launch and exploration activities, suggesting familiarity with the space sector's importance. (Biography)
STEM-Oriented Background: His personal background, with a father as an engineering professor and a mother as a science teacher, along with his own experience in the tech industry, suggests a foundational appreciation for scientific and technological endeavors. (Biography)
District NASA Contracts: Germfree Laboratories, LLC, located in Ormond Beach within his district, received a NASA contract for specialized equipment, demonstrating NASA's economic impact in FL-06. (USAspending, FY2022-FY2024)
Regional Aerospace Focus: His congressional district is situated within a state that actively promotes and invests in the aerospace industry, including spaceport development, creating a supportive regional environment for NASA's activities. (SpaceNews, 2025-07-15; Space Florida, 2024-12-19)
Challenges
Lack of direct legislative platform: Representative Fine does not hold a current committee assignment relevant to space or science in the 119th Congress, limiting his direct influence on NASA's budget and policy decisions. (Authoritative Committee Data, 2025-01)
Skepticism regarding climate science: During his tenure in the Florida legislature, Representative Fine expressed skepticism about the severity of climate change and voted against related legislation, which may indicate a reluctance to support Earth science funding within NASA. (Florida Politics, 2022-03; Orlando Sentinel, 2021-05)
General fiscal conservatism: Representative Fine has consistently advocated for reduced government spending and tax cuts as a fiscal conservative, which could lead to a cautious approach toward increasing federal discretionary spending for NASA science activities. (Florida Politics, 2023-05; Space Coast Daily, 2022-08)
Competing legislative priorities: Representative Fine's stated federal priorities, including border security, inflation, and reducing overall government spending, may compete for his attention and advocacy efforts, potentially limiting his focus on increasing NASA science investments. (Randy Fine for Congress, 2024)