Creates Regulatory Framework For Commercial Human Spaceflight

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday night passed the bi-partisan U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act (CSLCA, or H.R. 2262 as amended), which represents one of the most significant modernizations of commercial space policy and regulatory legislation since the original Commercial Space Launch Act (CSLA) was enacted in 1984.

The legislation was authored and co-sponsored by  Senators John Thune (R-SD), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Gary Peters (D-MI), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tom Udall (D-NM).

“Today, the Senate passed a bill with far-reaching implications for the future of space exploration and the U.S. space industry,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Thune. “I appreciate the efforts of my Senate colleagues, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith who, among other congressional space policy leaders, were critical to building consensus around the bill that passed today.”
 
“This will help bolster an already thriving U.S. commercial space industry, especially in Florida where we are seeing an amazing transformation of the Kennedy Space Center into a bustling space port,” said Committee Ranking Member Nelson, who sponsored the original Commercial Space Launch Act over thirty years ago. “It also paves the way for NASA to begin launching astronauts to the International Space Station on American-made commercial rockets while providing jobs for the economy.”
 
"This law makes a commitment to supporting the continued development of a strong commercial space sector and recognizes the major stake Texas has in space exploration,” said Subcommittee Chairman Cruz. “It also provides NASA and the International Space Station with nearly a decade of mission certainty by extending the operation and utilization of the International Space Station until 2024. Most importantly, it solidifies America's leading role in the commercial space sector and builds upon the work of President Reagan. ”
 
“The researchers, entrepreneurs and manufacturers that make up our commercial space industry are driving innovation that helps grow our economy and furthers NASA’s research and human exploration priorities in space,” said Subcommittee Ranking Member Peters. “I am pleased that we were able to come together with our colleagues in the House to craft a final bipartisan bill that promotes new research, creates jobs and encourages the next major advancements in space exploration.”

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX)  praised Senate passage of of the bill, which consolidates language from the House-passed Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 or SPACE Act with provisions from S.1297, the Senate’s commercial space legislation. It provides much-needed guidance and regulatory certainty for America’s private space industry partners.

“I am pleased that the Senate has advanced H.R. 2262 to give our commercial space pioneers the certainty they need to expand our technology capabilities and explore the next frontier," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. "The growth in commercial space represents the exceptionalism of the men and women who have led this country to heights not thought possible. I plan to schedule this bill for final approval as early as possible and look forward to the President signing this important bill  into law.”

“This bill provides the boost America’s private space partners need as they lead the world into the future," said Chairman Smith. "[This] action is the result of months of work with our Senate colleagues to move this crucial legislation forward. H.R. 2262 facilitates a pro-growth environment for the developing commercial space sector. It reflects years of committee hearings and input from industry partners, education groups, and grassroots citizen advocates. This bill will keep America at the forefront of aerospace technology, create jobs, reduce red tape, promote safety, and inspire the next generation of explorers. I thank Senators Thune, Cruz, and Nelson for working with Majority Leader McCarthy and I to see this crucial legislation through to the end. I look forward to another House vote with strong bipartisan support for this bill.”

The House first passed H.R. 2262 in May with a broad bipartisan majority as well as support from space community stakeholders. The bill facilitates a pro-growth environment for the developing commercial space industry by encouraging private sector investment, creating more stable and predictable regulatory conditions, and improving safety. Specifically, H.R. 2262:

• Extends the FAA's regulatory learning period through September 30, 2023
• Preserves the risk sharing regime that allows American companies to remain internationally competitive through September 30, 2025
• Provides a four-year extension of the International Space Station until at least 2024 that gives certainty for ISS National Laboratory users

The House-Senate agreement also includes three additional bills passed out of the House Science Committee: 

• H.R. 2261, the “Commercial Remote Sensing Act of 2015” introduced by Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK)
• H.R. 2263, the “Office of Space Commerce Act” introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)
• H.R. 1508, the “Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015” introduced by Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) and Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA).

In addition to McCarthy and Smith, the SPACE Act was introduced in the House with the support of the following cosponsors:  Representatives Steven Palazzo (R-M.), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Bill Posey (R-FL), Steve Knight (R-CA), Brian Babin (R-TX), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), Randy Weber (R-TX), and John Moolenaar (R-MI).
 
CSLA was last updated in 2004, creating a regulatory framework for commercial human spaceflight that resulted in a wave of investment, innovation, jobs and economic growth for the U.S. This new legislation sets the stage for the continued growth and expansion of the space transportation industry, while enabling rapid advances in safety for spaceflight participants. It also promotes investments in new commercial space applications, promising future spaceflight capabilities that will benefit all Americans.

In a statement, the Commercial Spaceflight Federation applauded the passage of what it said is a much-needed and comprehensive legislation.
 
“The members of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation commend Senators Thune, Nelson, Cruz, Peters, as well as all their cosponsors, for their leadership and perseverance in passing this critical piece of bipartisan legislation to ensure that America remains the leader in space,” CSF President Eric Stallmer said. “CSF looks forward to quick action on this bill in the House of Representatives when it returns next week.”

(Source: House Science Committee, Senate Commerce Committee, and CSF news releases)

FMI: www.commercialspaceflight.org