Two House Republican leaders are backing President Donald Trump's Space Force proposal, according to Associated Press.

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told AP that the proposal is a "smart way" to address growing investments by China and others in space.

"We'd support that," McCarthy said in a brief interview in Sacramento, California.

The Space Force would be the first new branch of the military since the creation of the Air Force in 1947. Congress would need to create and fund the new military service, which is expected to cost billions. The administration is preparing a formal legislative proposal and budget to be presented by the end of the year.

McCarthy said that the idea is to make advancements as China and others increasingly invest in space.

"It would actually make a lot of good advancements for us, especially from technology," McCarthy said.