I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3657

To preserve the cooperative, peaceful uses of space for the benefit of all 

humankind by prohibiting the basing of weapons in space and the use 

of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 8, 2003

Mr. KUCINICH (for himself, Mr. HOEFFEL, Mr. CONYERS, and Mr. HINCHEY) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 

Science, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services and International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL

To preserve the cooperative, peaceful uses of space for the 

benefit of all humankind by prohibiting the basing of 

weapons in space and the use of weapons to destroy 

or damage objects in space that are in orbit, and for 

other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Space Preservation Act 

5 of 2003’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. REAFFIRMATION OF POLICY ON THE PRESERVA2 TION OF PEACE IN SPACE. 

3 Congress reaffirms the policy expressed in section 

4 102(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 

5 (42 U.S.C. 2451(a)), stating that it ‘‘is the policy of the 

6 United States that activities in space should be devoted 

7 to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all mankind.’’. 

8 SEC. 3. BAN ON BASING OF WEAPONS IN SPACE AND THE 

9 USE OF WEAPONS AGAINST OBJECTS IN 

10 SPACE IN ORBIT. 

11 The President shall—

12 (1) implement a ban on space-based weapons of 

13 the United States and the use of weapons of the 

14 United States to destroy or damage objects in space 

15 that are in orbit; and 

16 (2) immediately order the termination of re17 search and development, testing, manufacturing, 

18 production, and deployment of all space-based weap19 ons of the United States. 

20 SEC. 4. INTERNATIONAL TREATY BANNING SPACE-BASED 

21 WEAPONS AND THE USE OF WEAPONS 

22 AGAINST OBJECTS IN SPACE IN ORBIT. 

23 The President shall direct the United States rep24 resentatives to the United Nations and other international 

25 organizations to immediately work toward negotiating, 

26 adopting, and implementing an international treaty ban-
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1 ning space-based weapons and the use of weapons to de2 stroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit. 

3 SEC. 5. REPORT. 

4 The President shall submit to Congress not later than 

5 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 

6 every 6 months thereafter, a report on—

7 (1) the implementation of the ban on space8 based weapons and the use of weapons to destroy or 

9 damage objects in space that are in orbit required 

10 by section 3; and 

11 (2) progress toward negotiating, adopting, and 

12 implementing the treaty described in section 4. 

13 SEC. 6. SPACE-BASED NONWEAPONS ACTIVITIES. 

14 Nothing in this Act may be construed as prohibiting 

15 the use of funds for—

16 (1) space exploration; 

17 (2) space research and development; 

18 (3) testing, manufacturing, or production that 

19 is not related to space-based weapons or systems; or 

20 (4) civil, commercial, or defense activities (in21 cluding communications, navigation, surveillance, re22 connaissance, early warning, or remote sensing) that 

23 are not related to space-based weapons or systems. 

24 SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 

25 In this Act: 
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1 (1) The term ‘‘space’’ means all space extend2 ing upward from an altitude greater than 110 kilo3 meters above the surface of the earth and any celes4 tial body in such space. 

5 (2) The terms ‘‘space-based weapon’’ and 

6 ‘‘space-based system’’ mean a device capable of dam7 aging or destroying an object or person (whether in 

8 outer space, in the atmosphere, or on earth) by—

9 (A) firing one or more projectiles to collide 

10 with that object or person; 

11 (B) detonating one or more explosive de12 vices in close proximity to that object or person; 

13 or 

14 (C) any other undeveloped means.

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