[106th Congress Public Law 405]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ405.106]
[[Page 114 STAT. 1751]]
Public Law 106-405
106th Congress
An Act
To promote the development of the commercial space transportation
industry, to authorize appropriations for the Office of the
Associate <<NOTE: Nov. 1, 2000 - [H.R. 2607]>> Administrator for
Commercial Space Transportation, to authorize appropriations for the
Office of Space Commercialization, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: Commercial Space
Transportation Competitiveness Act of 2000. 49 USC 70101
note.>> assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Commercial Space Transportation
Competitiveness Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 49 USC 70101 note.>> FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) a robust United States space transportation industry is
vital to the Nation's economic well-being and national security;
(2) enactment of a 5-year extension of the excess third
party claims payment provision of chapter 701 of title 49,
United States Code (Commercial Space Launch Activities), will
have a beneficial impact on the international competitiveness of
the United States space transportation industry;
(3) space transportation may evolve into airplane-style
operations;
(4) during the next 3 years the Federal Government and the
private sector should analyze the liability risk-sharing regime
to determine its appropriateness and effectiveness, and, if
needed, develop and propose a new regime to Congress at least 2
years prior to the expiration of the extension contained in this
Act;
(5) the areas of responsibility of the Office of the
Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation have
significantly increased as a result of--
(A) the rapidly expanding commercial space
transportation industry and associated government
licensing requirements;
(B) regulatory activity as a result of the emerging
commercial reusable launch vehicle industry; and
(C) the increased regulatory activity associated
with commercial operation of launch and reentry sites;
and
(6) the Office of the Associate Administrator for Commercial
Space Transportation should continue to limit its promotional
activities to those which support its regulatory mission.
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SEC. 3. OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION.
(a) Amendment.--Section 70119 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 70119. Office of Commercial Space Transportation
``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Transportation for the activities of the Office of the Associate
Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation--
``(1) $12,607,000 for fiscal year 2001; and
``(2) $16,478,000 for fiscal year 2002.''.
(b) Table of Sections Amendment.--The item relating to section 70119
in the table of sections of chapter 701 of title 49, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
``70119. Office of Commercial Space Transportation.''.
SEC. 4. OFFICE OF SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for the activities of the
Office of Space Commercialization--
(1) $590,000 for fiscal year 2001;
(2) $608,000 for fiscal year 2002; and
(3) $626,000 for fiscal year 2003.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than <<NOTE: Deadline.>> 90 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce
shall transmit to the Congress a report on the Office of Space
Commercialization detailing the activities of the Office, the materials
produced by the Office, the extent to which the Office has fulfilled the
functions established for it by the Congress, and the extent to which
the Office has participated in interagency efforts.
SEC. 5. COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION INDEMNIFICATION EXTENSION.
(a) In General.--If, on the date of the enactment of this Act,
section 70113(f ) of title 49, United States Code, has not been amended
by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban
Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, then
that section is amended by striking ``December 31, 2000'' and inserting
``December 31, 2004''.
(b) Amendment of <<NOTE: 49 USC 70113.>> Modified Section.--If, on
the date of the enactment of this Act, section 70113(f ) of title 49,
United States Code, has been amended by the Departments of Veterans
Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2001, then that section is amended by striking
``December 31, 2001'' and inserting ``December 31, 2004''.
SEC. 6. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO SECTION 70113 OF TITLE 49.
(a) Section 70113 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``------, 19----.','' in subsection (e)(1)(A) and inserting
``------, 20----.',''.
(b) The <<NOTE: Effective date. 49 USC 70113 note.>> amendment made
by subsection (a) takes effect on January 1, 2000.
SEC. 7. <<NOTE: 49 USC 70112 note.>> LIABILITY REGIME FOR COMMERCIAL
SPACE TRANSPORTATION.
(a) Report Requirement.--Not later than <<NOTE: Deadline.>> 18
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Transportation shall transmit to the Congress a report on the liability
[[Page 114 STAT. 1753]]
risk-sharing regime in the United States for commercial space
transportation.
(b) Contents.--The <<NOTE: Report.>> report required by this section
shall--
(1) analyze the adequacy, propriety, and effectiveness of,
and the need for, the current liability risk-sharing regime in
the United States for commercial space transportation;
(2) examine the current liability and liability risk-sharing
regimes in other countries with space transportation
capabilities;
(3) examine the appropriateness of deeming all space
transportation activities to be ``ultrahazardous activities''
for which a strict liability standard may be applied and which
liability regime should attach to space transportation
activities, whether ultrahazardous activities or not;
(4) examine the effect of relevant international treaties on
the Federal Government's liability for commercial space launches
and how the current domestic liability risk-sharing regime meets
or exceeds the requirements of those treaties;
(5) examine the appropriateness, as commercial reusable
launch vehicles enter service and demonstrate improved safety
and reliability, of evolving the commercial space transportation
liability regime towards the approach of the airline liability
regime;
(6) examine the need for changes to the Federal Government's
indemnification policy to accommodate the risks associated with
commercial spaceport operations; and
(7) recommend appropriate modifications to the commercial
space transportation liability regime and the actions required
to accomplish those modifications.
(c) Sections.--The <<NOTE: Report.>> report required by this section
shall contain sections expressing the views and recommendations of--
(1) interested Federal agencies, including--
(A) the Office of the Associate Administrator for
Commercial Space Transportation;
(B) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
(C) the Department of Defense; and
(D) the Office of Space Commercialization; and
(2) the <<NOTE: Commerce Business Daily,
publication.>> public, received as a result of notice in
Commerce Business Daily, the <<NOTE: Federal Register,
publication.>> Federal Register, and appropriate Federal agency
Internet websites.
SEC. 8. <<NOTE: 10 USC 2281 note.>> AUTHORIZATION OF INTERAGENCY SUPPORT
FOR GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM.
The use of interagency funding and other forms of support is hereby
authorized by Congress for the functions and activities of the
Interagency Global Positioning System Executive Board,
[[Page 114 STAT. 1754]]
including an Executive Secretariat to be housed at the Department of
Commerce.
Approved November 1, 2000.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2607:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 145 (1999):
Oct. 4, considered and passed House.
Vol. 146 (2000):
Oct. 13, considered and passed
Senate, amended.
Oct. 17, House concurred in Senate
amendment.
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