HR 2262 ENR: U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act
U.S. House of Representatives
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents; references
(a)This Act may be cited as the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act
. (b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; references.
TITLE I—Spurring private aerospace competitiveness and entrepreneurship
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. International launch competitiveness.
Sec. 103. Indemnification for space flight participants.
Sec. 104. Launch license flexibility.
Sec. 105. Licensing report.
Sec. 106. Federal jurisdiction.
Sec. 107. Cross waivers.
Sec. 108. Space authority.
Sec. 109. Orbital traffic management.
Sec. 110. Space surveillance and situational awareness data.
Sec. 111. Consensus standards and extension of certain safety regulation requirements.
Sec. 112. Government astronauts.
Sec. 113. Streamline commercial space launch activities.
Sec. 114. Operation and utilization of the ISS.
Sec. 115. State commercial launch facilities.
Sec. 116. Space support vehicles study.
Sec. 117. Space launch system update.
TITLE II—Commercial remote sensing
Sec. 201. Annual reports.
Sec. 202. Statutory update report.
TITLE III—Office of space commerce
Sec. 301. Renaming of office of space commercialization.
Sec. 302. Functions of the office of space commerce.
TITLE IV—Space resource exploration and utilization
Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Title 51 amendment.
Sec. 403. Disclaimer of extraterritorial sovereignty.
(c)References to title 51, United States CodeExcept as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 51, United States Code. <enum>I</enum><header>Spurring private aerospace competitiveness and entrepreneurship</header> <section id="HB8A04C1EC0D641BA861CA4E54B19A321"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015</short-title></quote> or <quote><short-title>SPACE Act of 2015</short-title></quote>.</text></section>
<section id="H0149C0EDA6B244F8BF66741E8798B4DA"><enum>102.</enum><header>International launch competitiveness</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H13BA99F7556D4BBE934314D2CB07816A"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sense of Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that it is in the public interest to update the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from claims under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, with a validated risk profile approach in order to consistently compute valid and reasonable maximum probable loss values.</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7D0C9037D74E4DF6A94B74823AE1EE64"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Implementation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the commercial space sector and insurance providers, shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE291442B2B774B839986874EAC42742F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluate the methodology used to calculate the maximum probable loss from claims under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, and, if necessary, develop a plan to update that methodology;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAFF3EA6542FF4EA4B8802C8BF8A64986"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in evaluating or developing a plan under paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDF26F81A146341A2A3AB60BB5E80EF4A"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure that the Federal Government is not exposed to greater costs than intended and that launch companies are not required to purchase more insurance coverage than necessary; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4127304FDBC34522AEF970A69B49BD83"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consider the impact of the cost to both the industry and the Government of implementing an updated methodology; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5216308996824FD4ABC88B7227EE00A8"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submit the evaluation, and any plan, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H9B7F1008BA2F49FF8E3D5B1192D7793F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Independent assessment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 270 days after the date the evaluation is submitted under subsection (b)(3), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an assessment of—</text>
<paragraph id="HE14A3E8784C14AD6BAD96D4A68F62E66"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the analysis and conclusions provided by the Secretary of Transportation in the evaluation, and any plan, under subsection (b);</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFCDAA27D0F784FDCADB8A1B1FD025DE8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the implementation schedule proposed by the Secretary in the plan described in paragraph (1);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8BD0E85E07414BCE81A58238760F9997"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the suitability of the plan described in paragraph (1) for implementation; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H134101848D5449BF838D3CF291FA85B1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any further actions needed to implement the plan described in paragraph (1) or otherwise accomplish the purpose of this section.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2C41E8B1C2174FD08D0D1301465E0DBB"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Launch liability extension</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 50915(f) is amended by striking <quote>December 31, 2016</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2025</quote>.</text></subsection></section> <section id="H62E5028E242040AEA6865A844F89CF28"><enum>103.</enum><header>Indemnification for space flight participants</header> <subsection id="H8F0D089EF48D475E8B9F8C4F8EF1B617"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 509 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H78FD10A15F3B4136BEA5CE577A7DE6EC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 50914(a)—</text> <subparagraph id="HFB1EB204E58C44539F0B6326DDBBCC94"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H71CE0C55815045898182118E3EE59CDC" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H691AE73019E84CE68A68BFFCDFD5F04A"><enum>(E)</enum><text>space flight participants.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H9C59BDD7670642F3BB21C02ABDEE4500"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
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<paragraph id="HE3D97E1C23864A55844B06249DF1882B"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Subparagraph (E) of paragraph (4) ceases to be effective September 30, 2025.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB2C7D849939C46D3AD5C69BC73E29EF8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 50915(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7F0202A465B5482383C83A05653BC0D0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>a licensee or transferee under this chapter, a contractor, subcontractor, or customer of the licensee or transferee, or a contractor or subcontractor of a customer, but not against a space flight participant,</quote> and inserting <quote>a person described in paragraph (3)(A)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HFEA5B9E3EDD64D3C872E0B1934381EC3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF42C074CC2AE4110A256BFE8F20C40C0" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H8BD2D0886BAE4F8B96DAED554D823835"><enum>(3)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H9758B087A9BF4E8A834313AB4ADC6700"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A person described in this subparagraph is—</text> <clause id="H45531DFC015E4120AFB15154C50B816F" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a licensee or transferee under this chapter;</text></clause>
<clause id="H67DCA0C3509849B9AB397078CC5BD050" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a contractor, subcontractor, or customer of the licensee or transferee;</text></clause> <clause id="H8E3ADF668FCF409FA8A8D6CA1F0A1C77" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a contractor or subcontractor of a customer; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H29BF9E4CCD9A4E4EA47C199CCBC93F9A" indent="up1"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>a space flight participant.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H9D380DFBB0E24A9D83FB47C7D54D8680" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Clause (iv) of subparagraph (A) ceases to be effective September 30, 2025.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H5460096CAA6E4008970582885845193A"><enum>104.</enum><header>Launch license flexibility</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 50906 is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H3C2E5C16F356497C81DC45C356DE1B69"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (d)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H26EAB9BA22884640A1E0A3E48A0E2E82"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>that will be launched or reentered</quote> and inserting <quote>or reusable launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital trajectory or reentered under that permit</quote>;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HACC31C1933234135A9E862E2DC97438B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA42DFE8ECCD448BB9EAA9C8C502E0AD5" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HF1C136A6AEB3496890D9A92685197FAF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>research and development to test design concepts, equipment, or operating techniques;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HFEC5EE66330844E4BA181FB5CD1C31F3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text>
<clause id="HB0FB3E9DC9AC48D8B36063EA10B54F41"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>prior to obtaining a license</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="H980143691C0C49B89018B7540568F296"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>or vehicle</quote> after <quote>design of the rocket</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5C8D43606C2241AAAC391C8A56927913"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (e)—</text> <subparagraph id="H86D15D2162A64D70A2AF182CAB682AF7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>suborbital rocket design</quote> and inserting <quote>suborbital rocket or suborbital rocket design, or for a particular reusable launch vehicle or reusable launch vehicle design,</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0F1996B656714CA098527F8CBFE61DC7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by inserting <quote>or launch vehicle</quote> after <quote>the suborbital rocket</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H109B60FB6BFC4D9BB1E36D2CC832FF50"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD88BBBB7BF224BC2AE124963BD3AD539" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H34C22DA637904D27BE79C6AEE1DB7B36"><enum>(g)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may issue a permit under this section notwithstanding any license issued under this chapter. The issuance of a license under this chapter may not invalidate a permit issued under this section.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0884EEDB642C4241BFE3A6C4ADFD0DC0"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (h), by inserting <quote>or reusable launch vehicle</quote> after <quote>suborbital rocket</quote>.</text></paragraph></section>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H63F50E8EC40945E9BB95DF5E0EB4D83D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Licensing report</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on approaches for streamlining the licensing and permitting process of launch vehicles, reentry vehicles, or components of launch or reentry vehicles, to enable non-launch flight operations related to space transportation. The report shall include approaches to improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary costs, resolve inconsistencies, remove duplication, and minimize unwarranted constraints. The report shall also include an assessment of existing private and government infrastructure, as appropriate, in future licensing activities.</text></section> <section id="H549B1904B07443C28DC637DB5C707ECD"><enum>106.</enum><header>Federal jurisdiction</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 50914 is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAA5BCC01F867415BBF9AA5002A1F36B1" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H27A2D534897941228DBB0C61510ADCAA"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Federal jurisdiction</header><text>Any claim by a third party or space flight participant for death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from an activity carried out under the license shall be the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal courts.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="H3DEF69A95AEB4763BE5E257E4E760706"><enum>107.</enum><header>Cross waivers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 50914(b)(1) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2246D5335BB14DD48F8F795FD9D77A14" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H7DABFE78DEEB4DE69CCABFF3A55A40FB"><enum>(1)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HE32995959FBD402CBA69589A242CB1EB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A launch or reentry license issued or transferred under this chapter shall contain a provision requiring the licensee or transferee to make a reciprocal waiver of claims with applicable parties involved in launch services or reentry services under which each party to the waiver agrees to be responsible for personal injury to, death of, or property damage or loss sustained by it or its own employees resulting from an activity carried out under the applicable license.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3DC16E989D29434CBD7B5000D798C124" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>In this paragraph, the term <term>applicable parties</term> means—</text>
<clause id="H1303732D87D340B38C06F352FFBB7391"><enum>(i)</enum><text>contractors, subcontractors, and customers of the licensee or transferee;</text></clause> <clause id="HE8E43A302BCD4B9F90A7E4D163780813"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>contractors and subcontractors of the customers; and</text></clause>
<clause id="HBB38DB9737F54E35ABAC6075EB516777"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>space flight participants.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD9F3F8C883A34B5BAE63BE1647782B99" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Clause (iii) of subparagraph (B) ceases to be effective September 30, 2025.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBF2FC5ADB5E142C480E71CE32653E3E1" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>108.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Space authority</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAB8179A20FEA4CC5BEEBD12A1B445625"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, and the commercial space sector, shall—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE93ED340B40849DD93E313CC1E9D3C72"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assess current, and proposed near-term, commercial non-governmental activities conducted in space;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H17F4A40C9EBD449CB2105703B3368AD4"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify appropriate authorization and supervision authorities for the activities described in paragraph (1);</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4C0210DB7E904281B3B7071202FCD55E"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">recommend an authorization and supervision approach that would prioritize safety, utilize existing authorities, minimize burdens to the industry, promote the U.S. commercial space sector, and meet the United States obligations under international treaties; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H88A2B7C52F144A02AEA759B02C3FF42F"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the activities described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7BEE32D5AF6C4417B3B3933F3B4726CF"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exception</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this section shall apply to the activities of the ISS national laboratory as described in section 504 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18354">42 U.S.C. 18354</external-xref>), including any research or development projects utilizing the ISS national laboratory.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HBBD522A166734ED7AAD1BE7AA2B719BF"><enum>109.</enum><header>Orbital traffic management</header>
<subsection id="HEFEDE9E1AC7F4167A7FAF79FA5655835"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of the Congress that an improved framework may be necessary for space traffic management of United States Government assets and United States private sector assets in outer space and orbital debris mitigation.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H41D866C1A86D4264807B9C357AC9CCD0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Study</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Defense, shall enter into an arrangement with an independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization to study alternate frameworks for the management of space traffic and orbital activities.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H64FC640D0C294923AD2A1E6CEFA4D039"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The study shall include the following:</text> <paragraph id="H7A330F00268543ED8B90B212CFDA8794"><enum>(1)</enum><text>An assessment of current regulations, best practices, and industry standards that apply to space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFF978FF321114E209B3F8398BDB938C5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An assessment of current statutory authorities granted to the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Commerce that apply to space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation and how those agencies utilize and coordinate those authorities.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3DE8BC97FD8A4A1694605A6AA48894C2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A review of all space traffic management and orbital debris requirements under treaties and other international agreements to which the United States is a signatory, and other nonbinding international arrangements in which the United States participates, and the manner and extent to which the Federal Government complies with those requirements and arrangements.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H09255E00790D47A69346334541FD49A5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>An assessment of existing Federal Government assets used to conduct space traffic management and space situational awareness.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5EC1678392FD4388AD1037BF85A7352E"><enum>(5)</enum><text>An assessment of the risk to space traffic management associated with smallsats and any necessary Government coordination for their launch and utilization to avoid congestion of the orbital environment and improve space situational awareness.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE33AF452EF494A6F86CB2271838F82DB"><enum>(6)</enum><text>An assessment of existing private sector information sharing activities associated with space situational awareness and space traffic management.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8C4D1E55B3B74EDE96DCE3E8892EB1B0"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Recommendations related to the appropriate framework for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public and economic vitality of the space industry.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HE191EF05BEC148BE8518E742A6F3106B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives the study required in subsection (b).</text></subsection> <subsection id="H2C4E226D91DA49C3BBDFE72F3CC5DA9E"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Department of Defense authorities</header> <paragraph id="HC921858932284A3AA5631E012EABEC04"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense plays a vital and unique role in protecting national security assets in space.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD7384694A05F40C7B3EC1851F3F8442F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the authority of the Secretary of Defense as it relates to safeguarding the national security.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H87C1CE036ED549C59976E1A991EB3CD4" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>110.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Space surveillance and situational awareness data</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation in concurrence with the Secretary of Defense shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3E2F3122BE2345559FF3F423498285FD"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, study the feasibility of processing and releasing safety-related space situational awareness data and information to any entity consistent with national security interests and public safety obligations of the United States; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF4F754AB54FF46D9AD238D5F2F47D2CD"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submit a report on the feasibility study to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.</text></paragraph></section>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H65C8A45094B64E9083DA02622EA5AA4A"><enum>111.</enum><header>Consensus standards and extension of certain safety regulation requirements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 50905(c) is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7D88626B7E374DB7950F3819C02CC098"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="USC">In general</header-in-text>.—</quote> before <quote>The Secretary</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H00B1B3B635A642829AA31FA593299F99"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="USC">Regulations</header-in-text>.—</quote> before <quote>Regulations</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9820BAC95C3E4D7286BDA23AD64DD5E5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (3);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF84AA1D9BD944C7B968681EBB33213B9"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (10);</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2DB051E69F0543F3BABF6E6E3DA5A31A"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H51779C76723A441BB4102DA4C4EC0CA1" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA741517A7775496AA37F9FD542F39EFC"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Facilitation of standards</header><text>The Secretary shall continue to work with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, to facilitate the development of voluntary industry consensus standards based on recommended best practices to improve the safety of crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants as the commercial space sector continues to mature.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H810DDC354A5240BEBDF3C94F9A056DFE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Communication and transparency</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to discuss potential regulatory approaches, potential performance standards, or any other topic related to this subsection with the commercial space industry, including observations, findings, and recommendations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, prior to the issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking. Such discussions shall not be construed to permit the Secretary to promulgate industry regulations except as otherwise provided in this section.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H97DF301ACF204CCAA2262E29FA5EDC58"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Interim voluntary industry consensus standards reports</header>
<subparagraph id="HF102DA38A57945FB9A61D6D93CDBBBE2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than December 31, 2016, and every 30 months thereafter until December 31, 2021, the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the commercial space transportation industry in developing voluntary industry consensus standards that promote best practices to improve industry safety.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF6A6D8CE5622474BA31C6DB5A6DA7343"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The report shall include, at a minimum—</text>
<clause id="H13C2B14F20C646899F760DCD149F7AEB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any voluntary industry consensus standards that have been accepted by the industry at large;</text></clause> <clause id="H35B68A7143BD4BDBBF2F050C1004C5E2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the identification of areas that have the potential to become voluntary industry consensus standards that are currently under consideration by the industry at large;</text></clause>
<clause id="HBEC0F475AABC4CDA86A63AA003F61233"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>an assessment from the Secretary on the general progress of the industry in adopting voluntary industry consensus standards;</text></clause> <clause id="H18B808989F094100AD84FD9C0EF4BEAC"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any lessons learned about voluntary industry consensus standards, best practices, and commercial space launch operations;</text></clause>
<clause id="H3EE09405769A439B968F73E21A39502C"><enum>(v)</enum><text>any lessons learned associated with the development, potential application, and acceptance of voluntary industry consensus standards, best practices, and commercial space launch operations; and</text></clause> <clause id="H47F9EC34829E4670BD3E6A4EBFFD230F"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>recommendations, findings, or observations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, on the progress of the industry in developing voluntary industry consensus standards that promote best practices to improve industry safety.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5F5BA9AD23474EEBA9B4A0553B748F52"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of the <short-title>SPACE Act of 2015</short-title>, the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report specifying key industry metrics that might indicate readiness of the commercial space sector and the Department of Transportation to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations under paragraph (9) that considers space flight participant, government astronaut, and crew safety.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2A62D9E4530C44298D50CE0693608516"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Not later than March 31 of each of 2018 and 2022, the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that identifies the activities, described in this subsection and subsection (d) most appropriate for a new safety framework that may include regulatory action, if any, and a proposed transition plan for such safety framework.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6EF5042103E547A7953A7B2576971E35"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Independent review</header><text>Not later than December 31, 2022, an independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization or standards development organization contracted by the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an assessment of the readiness of the commercial space industry and the Federal Government to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations. As part of the review, the contracted organization shall evaluate—</text> <subparagraph id="H397BCA1A399C405D9C161B86AB8410DB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the progress of the commercial space industry in adopting voluntary industry consensus standards as reported by the Secretary in the interim assessments included in the reports under paragraph (5);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H80A8F307870748A4AD1354ACB4D2F6DD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the progress of the commercial space industry toward meeting the key industry metrics identified by the report under paragraph (6), including the knowledge and operational experience obtained by the commercial space industry while providing services for compensation or hire; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HAD5F13C25C234B4E967CB6729F163554"><enum>(C)</enum><text>whether the areas identified in the reports under paragraph (5) are appropriate for regulatory action, or further development of voluntary industry consensus standards, considering the progress evaluated in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF78687B195364550AF9A61157320162F"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Learning period</header><text>Beginning on October 1, 2023, the Secretary may propose regulations under this subsection without regard to subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (2). The development of any such regulations shall take into consideration the evolving standards of the commercial space flight industry as identified in the reports published under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7ACE2938940948FEBAE1B4E68F55FF0B"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in paragraph (10), as redesignated, by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">Rule of construction</header-in-text>.—</quote> before <quote>Nothing</quote>.</text></paragraph></section>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBDAECE74FAF54B388B30476A10034733" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>112.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Government astronauts</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6F4F8BAF1A9843FEB689BD647A7CDF05"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Findings and purpose</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 50901(15) is amended by inserting <quote>, government astronauts,</quote> after <quote>crew</quote> each place it appears.</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCAC88FE20C1744C390992A157613726C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has a need to fly government astronauts (as defined in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, as amended) within commercial launch vehicles and reentry vehicles under chapter 509 of that title. This need was identified by the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration due to the intended use of commercial launch vehicles and reentry vehicles developed under the Commercial Crew Development Program, authorized in section 402 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (124 Stat. 2820; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/267">Public Law 111–267</external-xref>). It is the sense of Congress that the authority delegated to the Administration by the amendment made by subsection (d) of this section should be used for that purpose.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0EE6E0FBF3614D4583DA37C186DC1D02"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of government astronaut</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 50902 is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB81E4891E8C143BDB51F50BE4EB49361"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (22) as paragraphs (7) through (25), respectively; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF85F34B4E4AD429CB707DA5A21A7E0D3"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5D93A890183E46BCB3BD205EC49141AB" style="OLC"> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE36CB1AD39BE4224BD2EB4DD7EE0F37B"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><term>government astronaut</term> means an individual who—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H276E9F545BDF40AC87D8F59518B26CA7"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is designated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under section 20113(n);</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDAA5FC9A26A745E5AE73217460403539"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle in the course of his or her employment, which may include performance of activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE2E4BDBA4CF3469D94A213CF2A252B84"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is either—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0CB5489D4A244A0490F6E88DD804E4C6"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an employee of the United States Government, including the uniformed services, engaged in the performance of a Federal function under authority of law or an Executive act; or</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7CE736D82D2A4287899CC0E516BC0F96"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an international partner astronaut.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFB61A78E02D040CCA42858C2CD829418"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><term>international partner astronaut</term> means an individual designated under Article 11 of the International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement, by a partner to that agreement other than the United States, as qualified to serve as an International Space Station crew member.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H123EA22FA67F438EA9C48E99C76CB7AF"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><term>International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement</term> means the Agreement Concerning Cooperation on the International Space Station, signed at Washington January 29, 1998 (TIAS 12927).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H78CF4D545170419B90C1F7C35577F3FB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Powers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in performance of functions</header><text>Section 20113 is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD458A16BC64F4CF5BA0127A86DA3EA32" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H490B5150609C4DE7B9428DEB72C66CD9"><enum>(n)</enum><header>Identification of government astronauts</header><text>For purposes of a license issued or transferred by the Secretary of Transportation under chapter 509 to launch a launch vehicle or to reenter a reentry vehicle carrying a government astronaut (as defined in section 50902), the Administration shall designate a government astronaut in accordance with requirements prescribed by the Administration.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCB59C3BE1FFB440D9EB8D32E3B4342B6"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of launch</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (7) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking <quote>and any payload, crew, or space flight participant</quote> and inserting <quote>and any payload or human being</quote>.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H082AFC42B64A4FCD9666BC74941F1548"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of launch services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (9) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking <quote>payload, crew (including crew training), or space flight participant</quote> and inserting <quote>payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HED87DCCD5EEB476A897D840A613315B8"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of reenter and reentry</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (16) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking <quote>and its payload, crew, or space flight participants, if any,</quote> and inserting <quote>and its payload or human beings, if any,</quote>.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9DAC995D6DE9480B92972376172C775F"><enum>(h)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of reentry services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (17) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking <quote>payload, crew (including crew training), or space flight participant, if any,</quote> and inserting <quote>payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant, if any,</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8B07A20465F549D58CE07B80F1C4E8AF"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of space flight participant</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (20) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H37AFAF97A9E94382A11417EC5906BE4B" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H64638CDA30CA49B1935F74F6698B0984"><enum>(20)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><term>space flight participant</term> means an individual, who is not crew or a government astronaut, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0F7698E7C89A4891AF6E134A7184D963"><enum>(j)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of third party</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (24)(E) of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by inserting <quote>, government astronauts,</quote> after <quote>crew</quote>.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEA5DBBB826A64A1CB68CA2905BEDE2E1"><enum>(k)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries; single license or permit</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 50904(d) is amended by striking <quote>activities involving crew or space flight participants</quote> and inserting <quote>activities involving crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBCEBD0B9D42640F1A98F0AE427119A26"><enum>(l)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">License applications and requirements; applications</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 50905 is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2B0EDC47ABAC408AB580C7916B0AB599"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a)(2), by striking <quote>crews and space flight participants</quote> and inserting <quote>crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9F6714DBA1984F8DA250F64933C0DCA2"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b)(2)(D), by striking <quote>crew or space flight participants</quote> and inserting <quote>crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants</quote>; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H90ACE8AC4F3C47C2BE733BB9A4C1488B"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (c)—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBCB663A497FD4F56BD549C3974230B35"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>crew and space flight participants</quote> and inserting <quote>crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H73064AA9FF7E4802BA6114D1B80AB500"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>to crew or space flight participants</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>to crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4FF6C10DC53B44EDA1081E25AD7F664B"><enum>(m)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Monitoring activities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 50907(a) is amended by striking <quote>at a site used for crew or space flight participant training</quote> and inserting <quote>at a site not owned or operated by the Federal Government or a foreign government used for crew, government astronaut, or space flight participant training</quote>.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H128CDAC16F444B3CAA4D843C1716ECE8"><enum>(n)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Additional suspensions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 50908(d)(1) is amended by striking <quote>to crew or space flight participants</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>to any human being</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDEEAABA5A03E4C328F713A6524FDB7DD"><enum>(o)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Relationship to other executive agencies, laws, and international obligations; nonapplication</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 50919(g) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H57C0170243C34234A146D29F14545807" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H990FA627B0834BE9AF24C5E71DF78637"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nonapplication</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD7DB737B0FFF4E429633C704D3FB9579"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This chapter does not apply to—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H95636C20140E419BA9634977FB529640"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a launch, reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry site, or other space activity the Government carries out for the Government; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H839FB9FC304849699D9487262644AA80"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">planning or policies related to the launch, reentry, operation, or activity under subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H167BD1C877D9408D9A9F630EC904678B"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rule of construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The following activities are not space activities the Government carries out for the Government under paragraph (1):</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3524C127A7274C3AA040307791E76F3E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A government astronaut being carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle under this chapter.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA3EA95FDFA5D4F01A8621BE2EC4B834D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A government astronaut performing activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle under this chapter.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4918E1BAA91342CAAE80A8123A48DACB" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>113.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Streamline commercial space launch activities</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7B47396E2C24454790BEE0D910981E00"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sense of Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that eliminating duplicative requirements and approvals for commercial launch and reentry operations will promote and encourage the development of the commercial space sector.</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDB758DBF90C5482589A1716524666B7C"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reaffirmation of policy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congress reaffirms that the Secretary of Transportation, in overseeing and coordinating commercial launch and reentry operations, should—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3F9593B09B0F44DBAF49845E78EDA690"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H80C3DFC7CBEE4DF0B2F7E3CEF21D4005"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">facilitate Government, State, and private sector involvement in enhancing U.S. launch sites and facilities;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9DB436A1A7F74B619C3E3F81C2E9C484"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">protect public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1A0D3E8EDF294907A6B358A8EA0DEE0A"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consult with the head of another executive agency, including the Secretary of Defense or the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as necessary to provide consistent application of licensing requirements under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/509">chapter 509</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1BA48933B9EE46CBA86233E31CE39107"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Requirements</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC98EB690898E4F5C8C579AE2E83F1B6B"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Transportation under section 50918 of title 51, United States Code, and subject to section 50905(b)(2)(C) of that title, shall consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the heads of other executive agencies, as appropriate—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6CF27BE1478E49E2B55D92DFB8BE4686"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to identify all requirements that are imposed to protect the public health and safety, safety of property, national security interests, and foreign policy interests of the United States relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCACFA8DCDDF54E8BB752D48F0E61ED05"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to evaluate the requirements identified in subparagraph (A) and, in coordination with the licensee or transferee and the heads of the relevant executive agencies—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6EB26B7B86104CF395A601F5FCD7D789"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determine whether the satisfaction of a requirement of one agency could result in the satisfaction of a requirement of another agency; and</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC98E1900A1424E698DF6DAA45369C20E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">resolve any inconsistencies and remove any outmoded or duplicative requirements or approvals of the Federal Government relevant to any commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4A0C51D0264D440FA473E227800D11C9"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reports</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the Secretary of Transportation determines no outmoded or duplicative requirements or approvals of the Federal Government exist, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the commercial space sector, and the heads of other executive agencies, as appropriate, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5C86DE204FA9440C983A95B01DCF8A85"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A description of the process for the application for and approval of a permit or license under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/509">chapter 509</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, for the commercial launch of a launch vehicle or commercial reentry of a reentry vehicle, including the identification of—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4870FCE065B44C44B36D7025E59F5E07"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any unique requirements for operating on a United States Government launch site, reentry site, or launch property; and</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1542D6E3F23F4572BC3FF5C00B624E5E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any inconsistent, outmoded, or duplicative requirements or approvals.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2A2609F71CCF40D9908FD3FB57DD6FD6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A description of current efforts, if any, to coordinate and work across executive agencies to define interagency processes and procedures for sharing information, avoiding duplication of effort, and resolving common agency requirements.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1EF4BC2492FB43BBBBA9637AC24CA00C"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Recommendations for legislation that may further—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H462EABB9E41C4B52B90B5711DFC6BBCB"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">streamline requirements in order to improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary costs, resolve inconsistencies, remove duplication, and minimize unwarranted constraints; and</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H528ED5C0BC6E44069DB527CB470A7212"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consolidate or modify requirements across affected agencies into a single application set that satisfies the requirements identified in paragraph (1)(A).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5DC9422387CB41E78218FA6828CE603C"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of this subsection—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD17D6B55DA7E42D188D9DF681C67D6CF"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any applicable definitions set forth in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, shall apply;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE351BE2072714965BC047C74D1474713"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the terms <term>launch</term>, <term>reenter</term>, and <term>reentry</term> include landing of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3AF0DDE94DE54CCEABE84EA3CEDAA744"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the terms <term>United States Government launch site</term> and <term>United States Government reentry site</term> include any necessary facility, at that location, that is commercially operated on United States Government property.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4AB6D0823FFB439EA7364CCD3A176A95" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>114.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Operation and utilization of the ISS</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC54D64967C2F4F4F9DD6B190337433C1"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sense of Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEACAE9E2E1814B4FB342915F4D832D57"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maximum utilization of partnerships, scientific research, commercial applications, and exploration test bed capabilities of the ISS is essential to ensuring the greatest return on investments made by the United States and its international partners in the development, assembly, and operations of that unique facility; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC5755E1C34604EFFB10C974A8AD044E0"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">every effort should be made to ensure that decisions regarding the service life of the ISS are based on the station's projected capability to continue providing effective and productive research and exploration test bed capabilities.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB99F994E8DBB4EB684024FF43FA92560"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Continuation of the International Space Station</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEC19ABF868114291852625E574BCB64E"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 501 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18351">42 U.S.C. 18351</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5A151289A1D8438AA777E6746510EE98"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">through 2020</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAFF9CD6C125E4FB194E5F41E89981E32"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a), by striking <quote>through at least 2020</quote> and inserting <quote>through at least 2024</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEF0116B0627847B699C70485E180FA56"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Maintenance of the United States segment and assurance of continued operations of the International Space Station</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 503 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18353">42 U.S.C. 18353</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H51A4161C73B84FFCBFA03EB56F024AF0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a), by striking <quote>through at least September 30, 2020</quote> and inserting <quote>through at least September 30, 2024</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF319A63AD55D430EB2CF3EDAB102BA0B"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b)(1), by striking <quote>In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator</quote> and inserting <quote>The Administrator</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H689A42854B9E41929C6BE78BFB6FD72D"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Research capacity allocation and integration of research payloads</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 504(d) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18354">42 U.S.C. 18354(d)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2020</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>at least September 30, 2024</quote>.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H145C386EBC4A4D5EA2E9EC5EF50439BD"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Maintaining use through at least 2024</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 70907 is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDF2BEF192F9E4CE59A422207A29A706E" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H24A6F4A0A50C4EC8B7266174F692C66D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>70907.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Maintaining use through at least 2024</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1621C2918EE04FB7BA8E98C1578FD3C6"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Policy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the International Space Station remains a viable and productive facility capable of potential United States utilization through at least September 30, 2024.</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF7F1083B3AFD4FA59A3412B6A9226398"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">NASA actions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In furtherance of the policy under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the International Space Station, as a designated national laboratory—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC51B224E1D2F423B8D4D524108D232FA"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">remains viable as an element of overall exploration and partnership strategies and approaches;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H796FA89C08E043259B8F8EE243364E3A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is considered for use by all NASA mission directorates, as appropriate, for technically appropriate scientific data gathering or technology risk reduction demonstrations; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD5827E2DE9284A6E930DE2A058777C59"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">remains an effective, functional vehicle providing research and test bed capabilities for the United States through at least September 30, 2024.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8147E370DCC240FD991360F3E95AE202"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Technical and conforming amendments</header> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H443C612580534AF1A3A1BA4BE85446B1"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Table of contents of 2010 Act</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The item relating to section 501 in the table of contents in section 1(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (124 Stat. 2806) is amended by striking <quote>through 2020</quote>.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5691F0E6065E4B14944915E0F35DC3E6"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Table of contents of chapter 709</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents for chapter 709 is amended by amending the item relating to section 70907 to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9A81951C92144181879832846ACC5EEC" style="OLC"> <toc> <toc-entry bold="off" level="section">70907. Maintaining use through at least 2024.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="H8D938C15F1F44E44B77344DBE10B4C82"><enum>115.</enum><header>State commercial launch facilities</header> <subsection id="HD07082CD35734C199D5CBBD85C3C63E1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text>
<paragraph id="H072138D40EAE492DAD1A6BE7B891BCB7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>State involvement, development, ownership, and operation of launch facilities can enable growth of the Nation's commercial suborbital and orbital space endeavors and support both commercial and Government space programs;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H411E4384DCBD4D7EB91153C7E5E9B8F9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>State launch facilities and the people and property in the affected launch areas of those facilities may be subject to risks resulting from an activity carried out under a license under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/509">chapter 509</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB6BB1EAA1CFC43D7A226104223FC4509"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to ensure the success of the commercial launch industry and the safety of the people and property in the affected launch areas of those facilities, States and State launch facilities should seek to take proper measures to protect themselves, to the extent of their potential liability for involvement in launch services or reentry services, and compensate third parties for possible death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from an activity carried out under a license under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/51/509">chapter 509</external-xref> of title 51, United States Code, to which the State or State launch facility is involved in the launch services or reentry services.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H291C7AE8930643AA80B9E5D18F658F25"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the potential inclusion of all government property, including State and municipal property, in the existing indemnification regime established under section 50914 of title 51, United States Code.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HDCD8C36220E04F6281D955E0EDD384FF"><enum>116.</enum><header>Space support vehicles study</header>
<subsection id="HBE951BE5164B473FA7606D7C3DD43FA0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the use of space support vehicle services in the commercial space industry.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H58FBEE2C86A84356A2D74DB21DDABAB2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This report shall include—</text>
<paragraph id="HBF52B5667D884902B75A7951353E4474"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the extent to which launch providers rely on such services as part of their business models;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD1012071E2694E5E88A886D7FD24BCA3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the statutory, regulatory, and market barriers to the use of such services; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9957D58DCD054A6891A48EDAC0B326E5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>recommendations for legislative or regulatory action that may be needed to ensure reduced barriers to the use of such services if such use is a requirement of the industry.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="H2C4B6A0A0348491CA5EDF74B1A5A5B15"><enum>117.</enum><header>Space launch system update</header> <subsection id="H894331495864414AB80AC58AFAA05945"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Chapter 701 is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H173458C146A9434FBB705686F75F5705"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the heading by striking <quote><header-in-text level="chapter" style="USC">space shuttle</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="chapter" style="USC">space launch system</header-in-text></quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2DE0513B03604FB0807A8245B3057F9A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 70101—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD8648E718CA94CA986B4029C331317F3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">space shuttle</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">space launch system</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3028C039CA6543DDB2CE9B2ED02C2BB4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>space shuttle</quote> and inserting <quote>space launch system</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCC2FE3C9B635409CB321761D41FBFED8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by amending section 70102 to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEF9509447F3D4CC5AC888AC84CF84B1E" style="USC"> <section id="H282A890B8A014A84B6F80BA179F64882"><enum>70102.</enum><header>Space launch system use policy </header> <subsection id="H8ECD7437D817417AAE7985163627DA67"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Space Launch System may be used for the following circumstances:</text>
<paragraph id="H6EFBF0695B864BEFA6CB5C1136509A96"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Payloads and missions that contribute to extending human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and substantially benefit from the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4184C73ACF254677B29810F070411E76"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other payloads and missions that substantially benefit from the unique capabilities of the Space Launch System.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF21662B1B3FD41DA927BC34ED09CCCE9"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On a space available basis, Federal Government or educational payloads that are consistent with NASA’s mission for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6063E3D5A5EC446BA415AF1161695DC1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Compelling circumstances, as determined by the Administrator.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H256F4A648724470E87BC77905A1A674F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Agreements with foreign entities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator may plan, negotiate, or implement agreements with foreign entities for the launch of payloads for international collaborative efforts relating to science and technology using the Space Launch System.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H13A1AFF7D9174298BD1CD6B422D5C991"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Compelling circumstances</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 30 days after the date the Administrator makes a determination under subsection (a)(4), the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives written notification of the Administrator’s intent to select the Space Launch System for a specific mission under that subsection, including justification for the determination.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H604AC7AF3EB9469A850CEF29A8B87780"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in section 70103—</text> <subparagraph id="HCC3AB44E9E5B4553BE39144846B2D221"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">space shuttle</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">space launch system</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB7631A7B8BAA4A79AA52CD413AEA7EA1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (b), by striking <quote>space shuttle</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>space launch system</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H20BFDA6CA7604A12BFD5D24784E0AD4A"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7506D97667414C4FB68C8707C37952E3" style="USC">
<section id="HF82F5BEB1F384C5A8E53A7AC2276BE80"><enum>70104.</enum><header>Definition of Space Launch System</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this chapter, the term <term>Space Launch System</term> means the Space Launch System authorized under section 302 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18322">42 U.S.C. 18322</external-xref>).</text></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HC1A5547CFF4941019783805FF2E720B5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendments</header> <paragraph id="HDCC875FD5F03413D8F5C2E2D19A0A552"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Table of chapters</header><text>The table of chapters of title 51 is amended by amending the item relating to chapter 701 to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6A8FEF003AE24E608D1DB6B3DC0D7981" style="OLC">
<toc>
<multi-column-toc-entry bold="off" level="section"><toc-enum>701. </toc-enum><level-header level="section">Use of space launch system or alternatives</level-header><target>70101</target></multi-column-toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFED1283F803044E9967C70F15DFE077C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Table of contents of chapter 701</header><text>The table of contents of chapter 701 is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="HE7CB4F9D7233449581185CAF32660C4E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the item relating to section 70101, by striking <quote>space shuttle</quote> and inserting <quote>space launch system</quote>;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H145CFADEC606459883AC4B41CB1B2A1C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the item relating to section 70102, by striking <quote>Space shuttle</quote> and inserting <quote>Space launch system</quote>;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H52AA2480A2124D1393192B8E1AD5D2ED"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the item relating to section 70103, by striking <quote>space shuttle</quote> and inserting <quote>space launch system</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD5FFDC975C44458786B2B522A84862E0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE75EF01E5A284EFAB7DB558573261FCA" style="OLC"> <toc> <toc-entry bold="off" level="section">70104. Definition of Space Launch System.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H805C539021164E4D9F6368259F0CABF2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Requirement to procure commercial space transportation services</header><text>Section 50131(a) of chapter 51 is amended by inserting <quote>or in section 70102</quote> after <quote>in this section</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<enum>II</enum><header>Commercial remote sensing</header>
<section id="HE7754D8147E740A68C99DB0C32746D59"><enum>201.</enum><header>Annual reports</header>
<subsection id="H8A33A9F5E019492C960F9876D9374B45"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter III of chapter 601 is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEE0E0F3E9C2E436B85CD0222D4096C5B" style="USC"> <section id="H68B6FF5747E845D8ABC2B06F012FDD90"><enum>60126.</enum><header>Annual reports</header> <subsection id="H268DA9E90C594972AB09EBFB11832221"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the <short-title>U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act</short-title>, and annually thereafter, on—</text>
<paragraph id="HFF5215ACFABB43CFAA1786A402244960"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Secretary's implementation of section 60121, including—</text> <subparagraph id="H01AD5311787B44F9AE5C5E93E5A51A74"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a list of all applications received in the previous calendar year;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7089ED39E09E4027BCAE5F3A416B6B64"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a list of all applications that resulted in a license under section 60121;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H5CEAA8CC5EA343FCA306217725C31BB7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a list of all applications denied and an explanation of why each application was denied, including any information relevant to the interagency adjudication process of a licensing request;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H394E93AA60564D5181C9796D3D700793"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a list of all applications that required additional information; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HEEC1F8015BEA44FB91ED5D5B22F1BA49"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a list of all applications whose disposition exceeded the 120 day deadline established in section 60121(c), the total days overdue for each application that exceeded such deadline, and an explanation for the delay;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1D1A1DA0D60F4C578E9F69CB1853F871"><enum>(2)</enum><text>all notifications and information provided to the Secretary under section 60122; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H990424E9CD704A93AB83F1E1176661A5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a description of all actions taken by the Secretary under the administrative authority granted by paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) of section 60123(a).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H66145D23C23540EEBB286E0F3E417E47"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Classified annexes</header><text>Each report under subsection (a) may include classified annexes as necessary to protect the disclosure of sensitive or classified information.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H605CE7C6A0E445BC86B1A26442E02C71"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The reporting requirement under this section terminates effective September 30, 2020.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="H3EF26AEC09084E838F226159447A5CF1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents of chapter 601 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 60125 the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5D462E3577584A30B54D18CD180C8D2C" style="OLC"> <toc regeneration="no-regeneration"> <toc-entry level="section">60126. Annual reports.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="H29309F69C2054209B5D87B09102A94DB"><enum>202.</enum><header>Statutory update report</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on statutory updates necessary to license private remote sensing space systems. In preparing the report, the Secretary shall take into account the need to protect national security while maintaining United States private sector leadership in the field, and reflect the current state of the art of remote sensing systems, instruments, or technologies.</text></section>
<enum>III</enum><header>Office of space commerce</header>
<section id="HC11C572860CE4F57AEFFECD0D2A688A2"><enum>301.</enum><header>Renaming of office of space commercialization</header>
<subsection id="H79DD098465DA4128BC8523B164F93EEF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Chapter heading</header>
<paragraph id="HA80E5ABE5DF04C93982E7175AAE0E951"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendment</header><text>The heading for chapter 507 is amended by striking <quote><header-in-text level="chapter" style="USC">Commercialization</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="chapter" style="USC">Commerce</header-in-text></quote>.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF4EE08E102164F3699D586B0BEBC1830"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>The item relating to chapter 507 in the table of chapters for title 51 is amended by striking <quote>Commercialization</quote> and inserting <quote>Commerce</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H1E3EB2BEA9234746BDA4538C9DEC02DF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definition of office</header><text>Section 50701 is amended by striking <quote>Commercialization</quote> and inserting <quote>Commerce</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HCFC7944C8F7343ECA663FBE92FD3CBDA"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Renaming</header><text>Section 50702(a) is amended by striking <quote>Commercialization</quote> and inserting <quote>Commerce</quote>.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HDA628999E59C4F8EA56109B245828987"><enum>302.</enum><header>Functions of the office of space commerce</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 50702(c) is amended by striking <quote>Commerce.</quote> and inserting</text> <quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HDD5EBC56C7514BFB88737EE6FB2384DA" style="OLC"><text>Commerce, including—</text>
<paragraph id="H767F7C5EC4E34B62BB2184800485F7F5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to foster the conditions for the economic growth and technological advancement of the United States space commerce industry;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9CB8D34FF77B4F588CE1C547CFCCC844"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to coordinate space commerce policy issues and actions within the Department of Commerce;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD904A56D7ACA42CDA48334F02BE546FC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to represent the Department of Commerce in the development of United States policies and in negotiations with foreign countries to promote United States space commerce;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H637644A18E3E4F07A258021B23B8B09B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to promote the advancement of United States geospatial technologies related to space commerce, in cooperation with relevant interagency working groups; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4BC3E04EB6E14FFB88FEC54F758716A4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to provide support to Federal Government organizations working on Space-Based Positioning Navigation, and Timing policy, including the National Coordination Office for Space-Based Position, Navigation, and Timing.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <enum>IV</enum><header>Space resource exploration and utilization</header> <section id="H472400B164164465B32E4E234481C96E"><enum>401.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015</short-title></quote>.</text></section>
<section id="H43F8FBF8A9DD4C868EF950E10347683A"><enum>402.</enum><header>Title 51 amendment</header>
<subsection id="H415A8BC6EBDF4988B75384A0D9A3CCB9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subtitle V is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF95A4D3042DE4F2BA07B49F77105F2A8" style="USC"> <chapter id="HE298BC0CE4AD4B3987577B1953404746"><enum>513</enum><header>Space resource commercial exploration and utilization</header> <toc regeneration="no-regeneration"> <toc-entry level="section">Sec.</toc-entry> <toc-entry level="section">51301. Definitions.</toc-entry> <toc-entry level="section">51302. Commercial exploration and commercial recovery.</toc-entry> <toc-entry level="section">51303. Asteroid resource and space resource rights.</toc-entry></toc> <section id="H263B076FA5D644C89245CA952E6201DF"><enum>51301.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this chapter:</text>
<paragraph id="H61E6AADD21FD4128883C7FDE36DD56A1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Asteroid resource</header><text>The term <term>asteroid resource</term> means a space resource found on or within a single asteroid.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H15252C92368E4108AD9E95C21AE454A1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Space resource</header> <subparagraph id="HEA3A63C6F7FF489CA0DE1D4915798F17"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>space resource</term> means an abiotic resource in situ in outer space.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H082A5D3894F5407DA4E072307C786C07"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The term <term>space resource</term> includes water and minerals.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H07EDAE3033634D75B9F9BD1891543DBF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>United States citizen</header><text>The term <term>United States citizen</term> has the meaning given the term <term>citizen of the United States</term> in section 50902.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="H0A158086293E498A9BEAF0915EECD014"><enum>51302.</enum><header>Commercial exploration and commercial recovery</header>
<subsection id="H4E5901729A674F559F4EA31F170149F4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The President, acting through appropriate Federal agencies, shall—</text> <paragraph id="HDC5452BDAA3847A1A64CDD42D5BAC6D1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>facilitate commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by United States citizens;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1D3BC21A3A0F4ED3B8FD9424C81753CF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>discourage government barriers to the development in the United States of economically viable, safe, and stable industries for commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources in manners consistent with the international obligations of the United States; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H96027F6B6B4541908AE64240539343D1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>promote the right of United States citizens to engage in commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources free from harmful interference, in accordance with the international obligations of the United States and subject to authorization and continuing supervision by the Federal Government.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HA96340494F94452C9A97C6D681883AB7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the President shall submit to Congress a report on commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by United States citizens that specifies—</text> <paragraph id="H8166036DC51B413F847D86E7C8C0D828"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the authorities necessary to meet the international obligations of the United States, including authorization and continuing supervision by the Federal Government; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB4D0EE15BCDC41F384446F23A3E6AD54"><enum>(2)</enum><text>recommendations for the allocation of responsibilities among Federal agencies for the activities described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="HFD83C8A296A94386A55DF114C0E8B32E"><enum>51303.</enum><header>Asteroid resource and space resource rights</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">A United States citizen engaged in commercial recovery of an asteroid resource or a space resource under this chapter shall be entitled to any asteroid resource or space resource obtained, including to possess, own, transport, use, and sell the asteroid resource or space resource obtained in accordance with applicable law, including the international obligations of the United States.</text></section></chapter><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="HFF804FC49EFB4666A844BB10C0DABCB3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of chapters</header><text>The table of chapters for title 51 is amended by adding at the end of the items for subtitle V the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA435BB8256B04FF0B54F4B22B82B67BA" style="OLC"> <toc> <multi-column-toc-entry bold="off" level="section"><toc-enum>513.</toc-enum><level-header level="section">Space resource commercial exploration and utilization</level-header><target>51301</target></multi-column-toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="HF3B06483CA634B798BC3B6C9EA601550"><enum>403.</enum><header>Disclaimer of extraterritorial sovereignty</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that by the enactment of this Act, the United States does not thereby assert sovereignty or sovereign or exclusive rights or jurisdiction over, or the ownership of, any celestial body.</text></section>
Speaker of the House of Representatives.Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.