[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1982 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1982

  To amend chapter 511 of title 51, United States Code, to modify the 
authority for space transportation infrastructure modernization grants, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 14, 2023

 Mr. Hickenlooper (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Lujan, and Mr. Wicker) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend chapter 511 of title 51, United States Code, to modify the 
authority for space transportation infrastructure modernization grants, 
                        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 ``Spaceport Project Opportunities for 
Resilient Transportation Act'' or the ``SPACEPORT Act''.

SEC. 2. SPACE LAUNCH INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) Modification of Grant Authority.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (b) of section 51102 of title 
        51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Limitations.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may make a project grant 
        under this chapter only if the grant will not be for more than 
        90 percent of the total cost of the project.
            ``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the application of 
        paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that such a waiver is 
        in the national interest.''.
    (b) Eligibility Criteria.--Section 51103 of title 51, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``the 
                        United States Government's space transportation 
                        needs'' and inserting ``the civil, national 
                        security, and commercial space transportation 
                        needs of the United States'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
                        ``contributions'' and inserting ``support''; 
                        and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (F), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``, as 
                        needed.'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following:
    ``(2) The Secretary of Transportation shall develop specific 
criteria for evaluating and selecting proposed projects based on the 
considerations under paragraph (1).''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(3) The Secretary of Transportation shall consult with the 
Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other 
appropriate agencies of the Government with respect to subparagraphs 
(A) and (F) of paragraph (1), as appropriate.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Funding of Program.--Activities carried out under this 
section shall be funded only through appropriations approved by 
Congress and not through user fees or other funds.''.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator 
        of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
        Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other appropriate 
        agencies of the Government, shall submit to Congress a report 
        that--
                    (A) evaluates the demand for space transportation 
                services, including the civil, national security, and 
                commercial space transportation needs of the United 
                States and international commercial markets;
                    (B) provides legislative, regulatory, and policy 
                recommendations to ensure robust and resilient space 
                transportation capabilities in support of the national 
                space policy;
                    (C) examines a range of long-term funding options 
                and related considerations for space transportation 
                infrastructure projects; and
                    (D) provides an assessment of international space 
                transportation capabilities and investments, including 
                recommendations for maintaining United States 
                competitiveness and developing an international space 
                transportation network.
            (2) Updates.--Not later than 6 years after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, and every 4 years thereafter, the 
        Secretary of Transportation shall--
                    (A) update the report submitted under paragraph 
                (1); and
                    (B) submit such updated report to Congress.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 51105 of title 51, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``Not more than'' and all 
that follows through the period at the end and inserting ``There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for 
each fiscal year not more than $10,000,000 to make grants under this 
chapter.''.
    (e) Technical Amendments.--
            (1) Chapter heading.--The heading of chapter 511 of title 
        51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

   ``CHAPTER 511--SPACE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION 
                               GRANTS''.

            (2) Table of chapters.--The table of chapters at the 
        beginning of title 51, United States Code, is amended by 
        striking the item relating to chapter 511 and inserting the 
        following:

``511. Space Transportation Infrastructure Modernization       51101''.
                            Grants.
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