House Report 114-127 - PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (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; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 880) TO AMEND THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 TO SIMPLIFY AND MAKE PERMANENT THE RESEARCH CREDIT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES; AND PROVIDING FOR PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PERIOD FROM MAY 22, 2015, THROUGH MAY 29, 2015

[House Report 114-127]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

114th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 114-127

======================================================================

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (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; PROVIDING
FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 880) TO AMEND THE INTERNAL REVENUE
CODE OF 1986 TO SIMPLIFY AND MAKE PERMANENT THE RESEARCH CREDIT;
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES; AND
PROVIDING FOR PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PERIOD FROM MAY 22, 2015, THROUGH
MAY 29, 2015

_______

May 19, 2015.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed

_______

Mr. Stivers, from the Committee on Rules,
submitted the following

R E P O R T

[To accompany H. Res. 273]

The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration
House Resolution 273, by a nonrecord vote, report the same to
the House with the recommendation that the resolution be
adopted.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION

The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2262, the
SPACE Act of 2015, under a structured rule. The resolution
provides one hour of general debate equally divided and
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology or their respective
designees. The resolution waives all points of order against
consideration of the bill. The resolution makes in order as
original text for purpose of amendment an amendment in the
nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules
Committee Print 114-17 and provides that it shall be considered
as read. The resolution waives all points of order against that
amendment in the nature of a substitute. The resolution makes
in order only those further amendments printed in part A of
this report. Each such amendment may be offered only in the
order printed in this report, may be offered only by a Member
designated in this report, shall be considered as read, shall
be debatable for the time specified in this report equally
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall
not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a
demand for division of the question in the House or in the
Committee of the Whole. The resolution waives all points of
order against the amendments printed in part A of this report.
The resolution provides one motion to recommit with or without
instructions.
Section 2 of the resolution provides for consideration of
H.R. 880, the American Research and Competitiveness Act of
2015, under a closed rule. The resolution provides one hour of
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The
resolution waives all points of order against consideration of
the bill. The resolution provides that the amendment in the
nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and
Means now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment
printed in part B of this report, shall be considered as
adopted and the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read.
The resolution waives all points of order against provisions in
the bill, as amended. The resolution provides one motion to
recommit with or without instructions.
Section 3 of the resolution provides that it shall be in
order at any time on the legislative day of May 21, 2015, for
the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the
rules, as though under clause 1 of rule XV and that the Speaker
or his designee shall consult with the Minority Leader or her
designee on the designation of any matter for consideration
pursuant to this section.
Section 4 of the resolution provides that the Committee on
Appropriations may, at any time before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May
27, 2015, file privileged reports to accompany measures making
appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016.
Section 5 of the resolution provides that on any
legislative day during the period from May 22, 2015, through
May 29, 2015: the Journal of the proceedings of the previous
day shall be considered as approved; and the Chair may at any
time declare the House adjourned to meet at a date and time,
within the limits of clause 4, section 5, article I of the
Constitution, to be announced by the Chair in declaring the
adjournment.
Section 6 of the resolution provides that the Speaker may
appoint Members to perform the duties of the Chair for the
duration of the period addressed by section 5 as though under
clause 8(a) of rule I.

EXPLANATION OF WAIVERS

The waiver of all points of order against consideration of
H.R. 2262 includes a waiver of clause 3(e)(1) of rule XIII
(``Ramseyer''), requiring a committee report accompanying a
bill amending or repealing statutes to show, by typographical
device, parts of statute affected. The waiver is provided
because the submission provided by the committee was
insufficient to meet the standards established by the rule in
its current form. The Committee on Rules continues to work with
the House Office of Legislative Counsel and committees to
determine the steps necessary to comply with the updated rule.
Although the resolution waives all points of order against
the amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 2262 made
in order as original text, the Committee is not aware of any
points of order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature.
Although the resolution waives all points of order against
the amendments to H.R. 2262 printed in part A of this report,
the Committee is not aware of any points of order. The waiver
is prophylactic in nature.
The waiver of all points of order against consideration of
H.R. 880 includes a waiver of the following:
Section 306 of the Congressional Budget Act,
which prohibits consideration of legislation within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on the Budget unless
referred to or reported by the Budget Committee; and
Section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act,
which prohibits consideration of legislation that would
cause revenues to be less than the level of total
revenues for the first fiscal year or for the total of
that first fiscal year and the ensuing fiscal years for
which allocations are provided.
Although the resolution waives all points of order against
provisions in the bill, as amended, the Committee is not aware
of any points of order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature.

COMMITTEE VOTES

The results of each record vote on an amendment or motion
to report, together with the names of those voting for and
against, are printed below:

Rules Committee record vote No. 52

Motion by Mr. McGovern to strike the provision of the rule
that self-executes the amendment offered by Rep. Ryan (WI).
Defeated: 3-8

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Majority Members Vote Minority Members Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ms. Foxx........................................ Nay Ms. Slaughter..................... Yea
Mr. Cole........................................ Nay Mr. McGovern...................... Yea
Mr. Woodall..................................... Nay Mr. Hastings of Florida........... Yea
Mr. Burgess..................................... Nay Mr. Polis......................... ............
Mr. Stivers..................................... Nay
Mr. Collins..................................... Nay
Mr. Byrne....................................... Nay
Mr. Newhouse.................................... Nay
Mr. Sessions, Chairman.......................... ............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rules Committee record vote No. 53

Motion by Mr. Hastings to report open rules for H.R. 2262
and H.R. 880. Defeated: 3-8

SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 2262 IN PART A MADE IN ORDER

1. Smith, Lamar (TX): MANAGER'S Makes technical corrections
and requires a GAO report on state and municipal spaceports in
the existing indemnification regime. (10 minutes)
2. Grijalva (AZ): Broadens the coverage of experimental
permits to include suborbital launch vehicles to allow for non-
revenue testing. (10 minutes)
3. Rohrabacher (CA): Creates an independent study regarding
indemnification for spaceflight participants including options,
unintended consequences, and potential costs. (10 minutes)
4. Castro (TX): Ensures the Orbital Traffic Management
study includes input from nonprofit organizations that conduct
research in space traffic and orbital activities. (10 minutes)
5. Jackson Lee (TX): Facilitates outreach to minority- and
women-owned businesses on business opportunities in the
commercial space industry. (10 minutes)
6. Jackson Lee (TX): Facilitates the participation of HBCU,
Hispanic Serving Institutions; National Indian institutions, in
fellowships, work-study and employment opportunities in the
emerging commercial space industry. (10 minutes)
7. Edwards (MD): SUBSTITUTE Substitutes the text of S.
1297, a bipartisan Senate companion of this legislation. (20
minutes)

SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 880 IN PART B CONSIDERED AS ADOPTED

1. Ryan, Paul (WI): Excludes the budgetary effects of the
bill from being entered onto the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go
Scorecard.

PART A--TEXT OF AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 2262 MADE IN ORDER

1. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Smith of Texas or His
Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

Page 5, line 18, strike ``(4)'' and insert ``(3)''.
Page 14, lines 18 and 19, strike ``and shall be decided under
Federal law''.
Page 15, line 18, insert ``, in consultation with the Federal
Aviation Administration, the Federal Communications Commission,
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the
Department of Defense,'' after ``National Aeronautics and Space
Administration''.
Page 17, line 18, insert ``(a) Sense of Congress.--'' before
``It is the Sense''.
Page 18, after line 8, insert the following:
(b) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit 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 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.
Page 23, line 19, insert ``in the table of chapters'' after
``chapter 701''.
Page 31, line 22, amend subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
``(C) 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;
Page 32, line 10, after paragraph (3), insert the following:
Such report may include classified annexes as necessary to
protect the disclosure of sensitive or classified information.
Page 32, after line 10, insert the following:
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 601 of such title is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 60125 the following new
item:
``60126. Annual reporting.''.
____________________________________________________

2. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Grijalva of Arizona or
His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

Page 9, lines 18 through 20, amend paragraph (1) to read as
follows:
(1) in subsection (d), by striking ``that will be
launched or reentered'' and inserting ``or reusable
launch vehicles that will be launched into a suborbital
trajectory or reentered under that permit'';
Page 10, lines 1 and 2, amend paragraph (3) to read as
follows:
(3) in subsection (d)(3)--
(A) by striking ``prior to obtaining a
license''; and
(B) by inserting ``or vehicle'' after
``design of the rocket'';
Page 10, line 5, insert ``, or for a particular reusable
launch vehicle or reusable launch vehicle design,'' after
``rocket design''.
Page 10, line 5, strike ``and''.
Page 10, line 6, redesignate paragraph (5) as paragraph (6).
Page 10, after line 5, insert the following new paragraph:
(5) in subsection (e)(2), by inserting ``or launch
vehicle'' after ``the suborbital rocket'';
Page 10, line 11, strike the period at the end and insert ``;
and''.
Page 10, after line 11, insert the following new paragraph:
(7) in subsection (h), by inserting ``or reusable
launch vehicle'' after ``suborbital rocket''.
----------

3. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Rohrabacher of
California or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

Page 14, after line 12, insert the following new section:

SEC. 106. INDEPENDENT STUDY OF INDEMNIFICATION FOR SPACE FLIGHT
PARTICIPANTS.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act, 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 a report detailing the results of a study of the
issues associated with space flight participants and potential
third party claims that could arise from a potential accident
of a commercial licensed launch vehicle or reentry vehicle that
is carrying space flight participants. The study shall--
(1) identify the issues associated with space flight
participants and third party liability;
(2) identify options for addressing the issues;
(3) identify any potential unintended consequences
and issues associated with each of the options; and
(4) identify any potential costs to the Federal
Government for each of the options.
----------

4. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Castro of Texas or His
Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

Page 15, line 19, insert ``nonprofit,'' after
``independent,''.
----------

5. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Jackson Lee of Texas or
Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

Page 22, line 19, strike ``and''.
Page 22, line 23, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
Page 22, after line 23, insert the following:
(iii) facilitate outreach to
minority- and women-owned businesses on
business opportunities in the
commercial space industry.
----------

6. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Jackson Lee of Texas or
Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

Page 22, line 19, strike ``and''.
Page 22, line 23, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
Page 22, after line 23, insert the following:
(iii) facilitate the participation of
the Emerging Researchers National
Conference in STEM, American
Association for the Advancement of
Science, Louis Stokes Alliances for
Minority Participation Program (LAMP),
Historically Black Colleges and
Universities Undergraduate Program
(HBCU-UP) of the National Science
Foundation, Emerging Researchers
National Conference in Science,
Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics, the University of
Florida's Institute for African-
American Mentoring in Computing
Sciences, the Hispanic Association of
Colleges and Universities, the National
Indian Education Association, and other
institutions, organizations, or
associations as the Secretary of
Transportation determines to be useful
in investigating the feasibility of
developing programs for fellowships,
work-study, and employment
opportunities for undergraduate and
graduate students.
----------

7. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Edwards of Maryland or
Her Designee, Debatable for 20 Minutes

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``U.S. Commercial Space Launch
Competitiveness Act''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 51, UNITED STATES CODE.

Except 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.

SEC. 3. LIABILITY INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Sense of Congress.--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.
(b) Implementation.--Not later than September 30, 2015, the
Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the
commercial space sector and insurance providers, shall--
(1) evaluate and, if necessary, develop a plan to
update the methodology used to calculate the maximum
probable loss from claims under section 50914 of title
51, United States Code;
(2) in evaluating or developing a plan under
paragraph (1)--
(A) 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
(B) consider the impact of the cost to both
the industry and the Government of implementing
an updated methodology; and
(3) 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.

SEC. 4. LAUNCH LIABILITY EXTENSION.

Section 50915(f) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2016''
and inserting ``December 31, 2020''.

SEC. 5. COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH LICENSING AND EXPERIMENTAL PERMITS.

Section 50906 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
suborbital 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 may not invalidate a
permit issued under this section.''.

SEC. 6. LICENSING REPORT.

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.

SEC. 7. SPACE AUTHORITY.

(a) In General.--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--
(1) assess current, and proposed near-term,
commercial non-governmental activities conducted in
space;
(2) identify appropriate oversight authorities for
the activities described in paragraph (1);
(3) recommend an oversight approach that would
prioritize safety, utilize existing authorities,
minimize burdens, promote the U.S. commercial space
sector, and meet the United States' obligations under
international treaties; and
(4) 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 assessment and
recommended approaches.
(b) Exception.--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 (42 U.S.C. 18354),
including any research or development projects utilizing the
ISS national laboratory.

SEC. 8. SPACE SURVEILLANCE AND SITUATIONAL AWARENESS DATA.

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--
(1) 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
(2) 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.

SEC. 9. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN SAFETY REGULATION REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Extension of Certain Safety Regulation Requirements.--
Section 50905(c)(3) is amended by striking ``Beginning on
October 1, 2015'' and inserting ``Beginning on October 1,
2020''.
(b) Construction.--Section 50905(c) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(5) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed
to limit the authority of the Secretary to discuss
potential regulatory approaches with the commercial
space sector, including observations, findings, and
recommendations from the Commercial Space
Transportation Advisory Committee, prior to the
issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking.''.
(c) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in
consultation with the commercial space sector, including the
Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, 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 Representative a report
specifying key industry metrics that might indicate readiness
of the commercial space sector and the Department of
Transportation to transition to a regulatory approach under
section 50905(c)(3) of title 51, United States Code, that
considers space flight participant, government astronaut, and
crew safety.
(d) Biennial Report.--Beginning on December 31, 2016, and
biennially thereafter, the Secretary of Transportation, in
consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector,
including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory
Committee, 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 subsections (c)
and (d) of section 50905 of title 51, United States Code, most
appropriate for regulatory action, if any, and a proposed
transition plan for such regulations.

SEC. 10. INDUSTRY VOLUNTARY CONSENSUS STANDARDS.

(a) Industry Voluntary Consensus Standards.--Section
50905(c), as amended in section 9 of this Act, is further
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) The Secretary shall continue to work with the
commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space
Transportation Advisory Committee, to facilitate the
development of voluntary 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.''.
(b) Biennial Report.--Beginning on December 31, 2016, and
biennially thereafter, the Secretary of Transportation, in
consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector,
including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory
Committee, 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
detailing progress on the development of industry voluntary
consensus standards under section 50905(c)(6) of title 51,
United States Code.

SEC. 11. GOVERNMENT ASTRONAUTS.

(a) Findings and Purpose.--Section 50901(15) is amended by
inserting ``, government astronauts,'' after ``crew'' each
place it appears.
(b) Definition of Government Astronaut.--Section 50902 is
amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (22) as
paragraphs (7) through (25), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) `government astronaut' means an individual
who--
``(A) is either--
``(i) 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
``(ii) an international partner
astronaut;
``(B) is identified by the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
``(C) is carried within a launch vehicle or
reentry vehicle; and
``(D) may perform or may not perform
activities directly relating to the launch,
reentry, or other operation of the launch
vehicle or reentry vehicle.
``(5) `international partner astronaut' 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.
``(6) `International Space Station Intergovernmental
Agreement' means the Agreement Concerning Cooperation
on the International Space Station, signed at
Washington January 29, 1998 (TIAS 12927).''.
(c) Definition of Launch.--Paragraph (7) of section 50902, as
redesignated, is amended by striking ``and any payload, crew,
or space flight participant'' and inserting ``and any payload
or human being''.
(d) Definition of Launch Services.--Paragraph (9) of section
50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking ``payload, crew
(including crew training), or space flight participant'' and
inserting ``payload, crew (including crew training), government
astronaut, or space flight participant''.
(e) Definition of Reenter and Reentry.--Paragraph (16) of
section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking ``and
its payload, crew, or space flight participants, if any,'' and
inserting ``and its payload or human beings, if any,''.
(f) Definition of Reentry Services.--Paragraph (17) of
section 50902, as redesignated, is amended by striking
``payload, crew (including crew training), or space flight
participant, if any,'' and inserting ``payload, crew (including
crew training), government astronaut, or space flight
participant, if any,''.
(g) Definition of Space Flight Participant.--Paragraph (20)
of section 50902, as redesignated, is amended to read as
follows:
``(20) `space flight participant' means an
individual, who is not crew or a government astronaut,
carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle.''.
(h) Definition of Third Party.--Paragraph (24)(E) of section
50902, as redesignated, is amended by inserting ``, government
astronauts,'' after ``crew''.
(i) Restrictions on Launches, Operations, and Reentries;
Single License or Permit.--Section 50904(d) is amended by
striking ``activities involving crew or space flight
participants'' and inserting ``activities involving crew,
government astronauts, or space flight participants''.
(j) License Applications and Requirements; Applications.--
Section 50905 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 striking ``crew or
space flight participants'' and inserting ``crew,
government astronauts, or space flight participants'';
and
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``crew and
space flight participants'' and inserting
``crew, government astronauts, and space flight
participants''; 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''.
(k) Monitoring Activities.--Section 50907(a) is amended by
striking ``crew or space flight participant training'' and
inserting ``crew, government astronaut, or space flight
participant training''.
(l) Additional Suspensions.--Section 50908(d)(1) is amended
by striking ``to crew or space flight participants'' each place
it appears and inserting ``to any human being''.
(m) Enforcement and Penalty.--Section 50917(b)(1)(D)(i) is
amended by striking ``crew or space flight participant training
site,'' and inserting ``crew, government astronaut, or space
flight participant training site,''.
(n) Relationship to Other Executive Agencies, Laws, and
International Obligations; Nonapplication.--Section 50919(g) is
amended to read as follows:
``(g) Nonapplication.--
``(1) In general.--This chapter does not apply to--
``(A) 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
``(B) planning or policies related to the
launch, reentry, operation, or activity under
subparagraph (A).
``(2) Rule of construction.--The following activities
are not space activities the Government carries out for
the Government under paragraph (1):
``(A) A government astronaut being carried
within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle
under this chapter.
``(B) A government astronaut performing
activities directly relating to the launch,
reentry, or other operation of the launch
vehicle or reentry vehicle under this
chapter.''.
(o) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act, or the
amendments made by this Act, may be construed to modify or
affect any law relating to astronauts.

SEC. 12. STREAMLINE COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH ACTIVITIES.

(a) Sense of Congress.--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.
(b) Reaffirmation of Policy.--Congress reaffirms that the
Secretary of Transportation, in overseeing and coordinating
commercial launch and reentry operations, should--
(1) promote commercial space launches and reentries
by the private sector;
(2) facilitate Government, State, and private sector
involvement in enhancing U.S. launch sites and
facilities;
(3) protect public health and safety, safety of
property, national security interests, and foreign
policy interests of the United States; and
(4) 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 chapter 509
of title 51, United States Code.
(c) Requirements.--
(1) In general.--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--
(A) 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
(B) to evaluate the requirements identified
in subparagraph (A) and, in coordination with
the licensee or transferee and the heads of the
relevant executive agencies--
(i) determine whether the
satisfaction of a requirement of one
agency could result in the satisfaction
of a requirement of another agency; and
(ii) 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.
(2) Reports.--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:
(A) A description of the process for the
application for and approval of a permit or
license under chapter 509 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--
(i) any unique requirements for
operating on a United States Government
launch site, reentry site, or launch
property; and
(ii) any inconsistent, outmoded, or
duplicative requirements or approvals.
(B) 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.
(C) Recommendations for legislation that may
further--
(i) streamline requirements in order
to improve efficiency, reduce
unnecessary costs, resolve
inconsistencies, remove duplication,
and minimize unwarranted constraints;
and
(ii) consolidate or modify
requirements across affected agencies
into a single application set that
satisfies the requirements identified
in paragraph (1)(A).
(3) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
(A) any applicable definitions set forth in
section 50902 of title 51, United States Code,
shall apply;
(B) the terms ``launch'', ``reenter'', and
``reentry'' include landing of a launch vehicle
or reentry vehicle; and
(C) the terms ``United States Government
launch site'' and ``United States Government
reentry site'' include any necessary facility,
at that location, that is commercially operated
on United States Government property.

SEC. 13. OPERATION AND UTILIZATION OF THE ISS.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) 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
(2) 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.
(b) Continuation of the International Space Station.--
(1) Maintaining use through at least 2024.--Section
70907 is amended to read as follows:

``Sec. 70907. Maintaining use through at least 2024

``(a) Policy.--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.
``(b) NASA Actions.--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--
``(1) remains viable as an element of overall
exploration and partnership strategies and approaches;
``(2) is considered for use by all NASA mission
directorates, as appropriate, for technically
appropriate scientific data gathering or technology
risk reduction demonstrations; and
``(3) remains an effective, functional vehicle
providing research and test bed capabilities for the
United States through at least September 30, 2024.''.
(2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of
contents for chapter 709 is amended by amending the
item relating to section 70907 to read as follows:

``70907. Maintaining use through at least 2024.''.

PART B--TEXT OF AMENDMENT TO H.R. 880 CONSIDERED AS ADOPTED

At the end, add the following:

SEC. 3. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

The budgetary effects of this Act shall not be entered on
either PAYGO scorecard maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of
the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.

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