[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2262 Introduced in House (IH)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2262
To facilitate a pro-growth environment for the developing commercial
space industry by encouraging private sector investment and creating
more stable and predictable regulatory conditions, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 12, 2015
Mr. McCarthy (for himself, Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Palazzo, Mr.
Rohrabacher, Mr. Lucas, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Posey, Mr. Knight, Mr. Babin,
Mr. Hultgren, Mr. Bridenstine, Mr. Weber of Texas, and Mr. Moolenaar)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To facilitate a pro-growth environment for the developing commercial
space industry by encouraging private sector investment and creating
more stable and predictable regulatory conditions, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Spurring Private Aerospace
Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015'' or the ``SPACE Act
of 2015''.
SEC. 2. CONSENSUS STANDARDS.
Section 50905(c) of title 51, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (3);
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (8); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Interim industry voluntary consensus standards
report.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Commercial
Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor
organization, shall provide a report to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate on the progress of the commercial space
transportation industry in developing voluntary consensus
standards or any other construction that promotes best
practices to improve the industry. Such report shall include,
at a minimum--
``(A) any voluntary industry consensus standards or
any other construction that have been accepted by the
industry at large;
``(B) the identification of areas that have the
potential to become voluntary industry consensus
standards or another potential construction that are
currently under consideration by the industry at large;
``(C) an assessment from the Secretary on the
general progress of the industry in adopting voluntary
consensus standards or any other construction;
``(D) lessons learned about voluntary industry
consensus standards or any other construction, best
practices, and commercial space launch operations;
``(E) any lessons learned associated with the
development, potential application, and acceptance of
voluntary industry consensus standards or any other
construction, best practices, and commercial space
launch operations; and
``(F) recommendations, findings, or observations
from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory
Committee, or its successor organization, on the
progress of the industry in developing industry
consensus standards or any other construction.
This report, with the appropriate updates in the intervening
periods, shall be transmitted to such committees no later than
December 31, 2016, December 31, 2018, and December 31, 2020.
Each report shall describe and assess the progress achieved as
of 6 months prior to the specified transmittal date.
``(4) Interim report on knowledge and operational
experience.--The Secretary shall provide a report to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the of the Senate on the status of the
knowledge and operational experience acquired by the industry
while providing flight services for compensation or hire to
support the development of a safety framework. Interim reports
shall be transmitted to such committees no later than December
31, 2018, and December 31, 2020. Each report shall describe and
assess the progress achieved as of 6 months prior to the
specified transmittal date.
``(5) Independent review.--No later than December 31, 2021,
an independent, private systems engineering and technical
assistance organization or standards development organization
contracted by the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate 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--
``(A) the progress of the commercial space industry
in adopting industry voluntary standards or any other
construction as reported by the Secretary in the
interim assessments included in reports provided under
paragraph (4); and
``(B) the knowledge and operational experience
obtained by the commercial space industry while
providing services for compensation or hire as reported
by the Secretary in the interim knowledge and
operational reports provided under paragraph (4).
``(6) Learning period.--Beginning on December 31, 2023, the
Secretary may propose regulations under this subsection without
regard to paragraph (2)(C) and (D). The development of any such
regulations shall take into consideration the evolving
standards of the commercial space flight industry as identified
through the reports published under paragraphs (3) and (4).
``(7) Communication and transparency.--Nothing in this
subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the
Secretary of Transportation to discuss potential 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.''.
SEC. 3. INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH COMPETITIVENESS.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide for
updating 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 to provide reasonable maximum probable
loss values associated with potential third party losses from
commercially licensed launches. An appropriately updated methodology
will help ensure that the Federal Government is not exposed to greater
financial risks than intended and that launch companies are not
required to purchase more insurance coverage than necessary.
(b) Maximum Probable Loss Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall
provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a plan to update the methodology used to
calculate maximum probable loss from claims under section 50914 of
title 51, United States Code, through the use of a validated risk
profile approach. Such plan shall include, at a minimum--
(1) an evaluation of the reasonableness of the current
single casualty estimate and, if needed, the steps the
Secretary will take to update such estimate;
(2) an evaluation, in consultation with the Administrator
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the
heads of other relevant executive agencies, of the
reasonableness of the dollar value of the insurance requirement
required by the Secretary for launch providers to cover damage
to Government property resulting from a commercially licensed
space launch activity, and recommendations as to a reasonable
calculation if, as determined by the Secretary, the current
statutory threshold is insufficient;
(3) a schedule of when updates to the methodology and
calculations for the totality of the Maximum Probable Loss will
be implemented, and a detailed explanation of any changes to
the current calculation; and
(4) consideration of the impact of the cost of its
implementation on the licensing process, both in terms of the
cost to industry of collecting and providing the requisite data
and cost to the Government of analyzing the data.
(c) Independent Assessment.--Not later than 270 days after
transmittal of the plan under subsection (b), the Comptroller General
shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate an assessment of--
(1) the conclusions and analysis provided by the Secretary
of Transportation in the plan required under subsection (b);
(2) the implementation schedule proposed by the Secretary
in such plan;
(3) the suitability of the plan for implementation; and
(4) any further actions needed to implement the plan or
otherwise accomplish the purpose of this section.
(d) Launch Liability Extension.--Section 50915(f) of title 51,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2023''.
SEC. 4. LAUNCH LICENSE FLEXIBILITY.
Section 50906 of title 51, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (d), by striking ``launched or
reentered'' and inserting ``launched or reentered under that
permit'';
(2) by amending subsection (d)(1) to read as follows:
``(1) research and development to test design concepts,
equipment, or operating techniques;'';
(3) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ``prior to obtaining
a license'';
(4) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``suborbital rocket
design'' and inserting ``suborbital rocket or rocket design'';
and
(5) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:
``(g) The Secretary may issue a permit under this section
notwithstanding any license issued under this chapter. The issuance of
a license under this chapter shall not invalidate a permit under this
section.''.
SEC. 5. GOVERNMENT ASTRONAUTS.
(a) Definitions.--Section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (22) as
paragraphs (5) through (23), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new
paragraph:
``(4) `government astronaut' means an individual designated
as such by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, pursuant requirements established by the
Administrator, who--
``(A) is an employee of--
``(i) the United States Government,
including the United States Armed Forces; or
``(ii) a foreign government that is a party
to the Intergovernmental Agreement Among the
Government of Canada, Governments of Member
States of the European Space Agency, the
Government of Japan, the Government of the
Russian Federation, and the Government of the
United States of America Concerning Cooperation
on the Civil International Space Station,
signed on January 29, 1998; and
``(B) 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.'';
(3) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated by paragraph (1)
of this subsection, by inserting ``government astronaut,''
after ``crew,'';
(4) in paragraph (7)(A), as so redesignated by paragraph
(1) of this subsection, by inserting ``government astronaut,''
after ``(including crew training),'';
(5) in paragraph (14), as so redesignated by paragraph (1)
of this subsection, by inserting ``government astronauts,''
after ``crew,'';
(6) in paragraph (15)(A), as so redesignated by paragraph
(1) of this subsection, by inserting ``government astronaut,''
after ``(including crew training),'';
(7) by amending paragraph (18), as so redesignated by
paragraph (1) of this subsection, to read as follows:
``(18) `space flight participant' means an individual, who
is not crew or a government astronaut, carried within a launch
vehicle or reentry vehicle.''; and
(8) in paragraph (22)(E), as so redesignated by paragraph
(1) of this subsection, by inserting ``, government
astronauts,'' after ``crew''.
(b) Restrictions on Launches, Operations, and Reentries; Single
License or Permit.--Section 50904(d) of title 51, United States Code,
is amended by inserting ``, government astronauts,'' after ``crew''.
(c) License Applications and Requirements; Applications.--Section
50905 of title 51, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``crews and space
flight participants'' and inserting ``crew, government
astronauts, and space flight participants'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(D), by inserting ``, government
astronauts,'' after ``crew''; and
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, government
astronauts,'' after ``crew''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``to crew or
space flight participants'' each place it appears and
inserting ``to crew, government astronauts, or space
flight participants''.
(d) Monitoring Activities.--Section 50907(a) of title 51, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``crew or space flight participant
training'' and inserting ``crew, government astronaut, or space flight
participant training''.
(e) Additional Suspensions.--Section 50908(d)(1) of title 51,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``to crew or space flight
participants'' each place it appears and inserting ``to crew,
government astronauts, or space flight participants''.
SEC. 6. INDEMNIFICATION FOR SPACE FLIGHT PARTICIPANTS.
Chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 50914(a)(4), by adding at the end the
following:
``(E) space flight participants.''; and
(2) in section 50915(a)(1)--
(A) by striking ``or a contractor'' and inserting
``a contractor''; and
(B) by striking ``but not against'' and inserting
``or''.
SEC. 7. FEDERAL JURISDICTION.
Section 50914 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(g) Federal Jurisdiction.--Any action or tort arising from a
licensed launch or reentry shall be the sole jurisdiction of the
Federal courts and shall be decided under Federal law.''.
SEC. 8. CROSS-WAIVERS.
Section 50914(b)(1) of title 51, United States Code, is amended to
read as follows: ``(1) 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 its
contractors, subcontractors, and customers, the contractors and
subcontractors of the customers, and any space flight participants,
involved in launch services or reentry services or participating in a
flight under which each party to the waiver agrees to be responsible
for property damage or loss it or they sustain, or for personal injury
to, death of, or property damage or loss sustained by its own employees
resulting from an activity carried out under the applicable license.''.
SEC. 9. ORBITAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that, as
none currently exists, there may be a need for a framework that
addresses space traffic management of United States Government assets
and United States private sector assets to minimize the proliferation
of debris and decrease the congestion of the orbital environment.
(b) Study Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration shall enter into an arrangement with an
independent, private systems engineering and technical assistance
organization to study frameworks for the management of space traffic
and orbital activities. The study shall include the following:
(1) An assessment of current regulations, Government best
practices, and industry standards that apply to space traffic
management and orbital debris mitigation.
(2) An assessment of current statutory authority granted to
the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Aviation
Administration, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and how those agencies utilize and coordinate
those authorities.
(3) 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 in which the Federal
Government complies with those requirements.
(4) An assessment of existing Federal Government assets
used to conduct space traffic management and space situational
awareness.
(5) An assessment of the risk associated with smallsats as
well as any necessary Government coordination for their launch
and utilization.
(6) An assessment of existing private sector information
sharing activities associated with space situational awareness
and space traffic management.
(7) Recommendations related to the framework for the
protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public and
economic vitality of the space industry.
(c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide to the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
the report required in subsection (b).
(d) Department of Defense Authorities.--Congress recognizes the
vital and unique role played by the Department of Defense in protecting
national security assets in space. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to amend authorities granted to the Department of Defense to
safeguard the national security.
SEC. 10. STATE COMMERCIAL LAUNCH FACILITIES.
It is the Sense of Congress that State involvement, development,
ownership, and operation of launch facilities can help enable growth of
the Nation's commercial suborbital and orbital space endeavors and
support both commercial and Government space programs. It is further
the sense of Congress that State launch facilities and the people and
property within the affected launch areas of those State facilities are
subject to risks if the commercial launch vehicle fails or experiences
an anomaly. To ensure the success of the commercial launch industry and
the safety of the people and property in the affected launch areas, it
is the further sense of Congress that States and State launch
facilities should seek to take proper measures to secure their
investments and the safety of third parties from potential damages that
could be suffered from commercial launch activities.
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