[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2607 Engrossed in House (EH)]
1st Session
H. R. 2607
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To promote the development of the commercial space transportation
industry, to authorize appropriations for the Office of the Associate
Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, to authorize
appropriations for the Office of Space Commercialization, and for other
purposes.
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2607
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To promote the development of the commercial space transportation
industry, to authorize appropriations for the Office of the Associate
Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, to authorize
appropriations for the Office of Space Commercialization, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Commercial Space Transportation
Competitiveness Act of 1999''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) a robust United States space transportation industry is
vital to the Nation's economic well-being and national
security;
(2) a 5-year extension of the excess third party claims
payment provision of chapter 701 of title 49, United States
Code, (Commercial Space Launch Activities) is necessary at this
time to protect the private sector from uninsurable levels of
liability;
(3) enactment of this extension will have a beneficial
impact on the international competitiveness of the United
States space transportation industry;
(4) space transportation may eventually move into more
airplane-style operations;
(5) during the next 3 years the Federal Government and the
private sector should analyze and determine whether a more
appropriate and effective liability risk-sharing regime can be
achieved and, if so, develop and propose the new regime to
Congress at least 2 years prior to the expiration of the
extension contained in this Act;
(6) the areas of responsibility of the Office of the
Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation
have significantly increased as a result of--
(A) the rapidly expanding commercial space
transportation industry and associated government
licensing requirements;
(B) regulatory activity as a result of the emerging
commercial reusable launch vehicle industry; and
(C) the increased regulatory activity associated
with commercial operation of launch and reentry sites;
and
(7) the Office of the Associate Administrator for
Commercial Space Transportation should engage in only those
promotional activities which directly support its regulatory
mission.
SEC. 3. OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION.
(a) Amendment.--Section 70119 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 70119. Office of Commercial Space Transportation
``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Transportation for the activities of the Office of the Associate
Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation--
``(1) $6,275,000 for fiscal year 1999;
``(2) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;
``(3) $8,300,000 for fiscal year 2001; and
``(4) $9,840,000 for fiscal year 2002.''.
(b) Table of Sections Amendment.--The item relating to section
70119 in the table of sections of chapter 701 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``70119. Office of Commercial Space Transportation.''.
SEC. 4. OFFICE OF SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for the activities of the
Office of Space Commercialization--
(1) $530,000 for fiscal year 2000;
(2) $550,000 for fiscal year 2001; and
(3) $570,000 for fiscal year 2002.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall transmit to
the Congress a report on the Office of Space Commercialization
detailing the activities of the Office, the materials produced by the
Office, the extent to which the Office has fulfilled the functions
established for it by the Congress, and the extent to which the Office
has participated in interagency efforts.
SEC. 5. COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION INDEMNIFICATION EXTENSION.
Section 70113(f) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``December 31, 1999'' and inserting ``December 31, 2004''.
SEC. 6. LIABILITY REGIME FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION.
(a) Report Requirement.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall
transmit to the Congress a report on the liability risk-sharing regime
in the United States for commercial space transportation.
(b) Contents.--The report required by this section shall--
(1) analyze the adequacy, propriety, and effectiveness of,
and the need for, the current liability risk-sharing regime in
the United States for commercial space transportation;
(2) examine the current liability and liability risk-
sharing regimes in other countries with space transportation
capabilities;
(3) examine whether it is appropriate for all space
transportation activities to be deemed ``ultrahazardous
activities'' for which a strict liability standard may be
applied and, if not, what liability regime should attach to
space transportation activities, whether ultrahazardous
activities or not;
(4) examine how relevant international treaties affect the
Federal Government's liability for commercial space launches
and whether the current domestic liability risk-sharing regime
meets or exceeds the requirements of those treaties;
(5) examine whether and when the commercial space
transportation liability regime could be conformed to the
approach of the airline liability regime; and
(6) include recommendations on whether the commercial space
transportation liability regime should be modified and, if so,
what modifications are appropriate and what actions are
required to accomplish those modifications.
(c) Sections.--The report required by this section shall include--
(1) a section containing the views of--
(A) the Office of the Associate Administrator for
Commercial Space Transportation;
(B) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
(C) the Department of Defense;
(D) the Office of Space Commercialization; and
(E) any other interested Federal agency,
on the issues described in subsection (b);
(2) a section containing the views of United States
commercial space transportation providers on the issues
described in subsection (b);
(3) a section containing the views of United States
commercial space transportation customers on the issues
described in subsection (b);
(4) a section containing the views of the insurance
industry on the issues described in subsection (b); and
(5) a section containing views obtained from public comment
received as a result of notice in Commerce Business Daily, the
Federal Register, and appropriate Federal agency Internet
websites on the issues described in subsection (b).
The Secretary of Transportation shall enter into appropriate
arrangements for a non-Federal entity or entities to provide the
sections of the report described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4).
SEC. 7. STUDY OF APPROPRIATIONS IMPACT ON SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION.
Within 90 days after the later of the date of the enactment of this
Act or the date of enactment of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and
Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2000, the Comptroller General, in consultation with the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and
United States commercial space industry providers and customers, shall
transmit to the Congress a report on the impact of that appropriations
Act on the future development of the United States commercial space
industry.
Passed the House of Representatives October 4, 1999.
Attest:
Clerk.