(1) exploration and use of outer space is a mat-
ter of broad, national strategic importance; and 
(2) space exploration decision-making and re-
quirement-setting in such a strategic context is com-
plex, especially with respect to setting appropriate 
priorities and levels of risk tolerance. 
(c) REPORT ON INHERENT JUSTIFIABLE RISK.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the National Space 
Council, or its designee, shall submit to Congress and 
make available to the public a report relating the 
broad strategic national importance of space to the 
inherent, justifiable risk of the exploration and use of 
space. 
(2) POLICY AND STRATEGY.—The Administrator 
shall engage with appropriate members of the private 
sector, academia, and nonprofit organizations on a 
policy and strategy of enterprise-level engineering and 
operational risk management to present in the report 
that addresses inherent, justifiable risks of loss of life 
that may occur in space exploration and use. 
(3) CONTENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) clarify the broad strategic case and 
value of space; 
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(B) address inherent, justifiable risks of loss 
of life that may occur in space exploration and 
use; and 
(C) discuss enterprise- and architecture-level 
approaches for exploration risk management. 
SEC. 607. NASA LAUNCH SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
MODERNIZATION PROGRAM. 
(a) LAUNCH SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE MOD-
ERNIZATION.—The Administrator shall continue the pro-
gram established under section 305 of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
2010 (42 U.S.C. 18325) for launch support and infrastruc-
ture modernization for launch sites and ranges at NASA 
facilities that support the International Space Station mis-
sion. 
(b) LEVERAGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS.— 
Such program should, to the greatest extent practicable, le-
verage current and planned State government infrastruc-
ture investments at NASA facilities to support these and 
other missions and use funding available under this pro-
gram to collaborate on relevant infrastructure projects. 
SEC. 608. REAFFIRMATIONS ON ORBITAL DEBRIS. 
(a) REAFFIRMATION
OF FINDINGS.—Congress reaf-
firms the findings under section 839(a) of the National Aer-
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onautics and Space Administration Transition Authoriza-
tion Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–10) that— 
(1) orbital debris poses serious risks to the oper-
ational space capabilities of the United States; 
(2) an international commitment and integrated 
strategic plan are needed to mitigate the growth of or-
bital debris wherever possible; and 
(3) the delay in the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy’s submission of a report on the status 
of international coordination and development of or-
bital debris mitigation strategies is inconsistent with 
such risks. 
(b) REAFFIRMATION OF SENSE OF CONGRESS.—Con-
gress reaffirms the sense of Congress under section 840(a) 
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Transition Authorization Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–10) 
that— 
(1) orbital debris in low-Earth orbit poses sig-
nificant risks to spacecraft; 
(2) such orbital debris may increase due to colli-
sions between existing debris objects; and 
(3) understanding options to address and remove 
orbital debris is important for ensuring safe and ef-
fective spacecraft operations in low-Earth orbit. 
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SEC. 609. FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIPS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that, as State and local governments have invested hundreds 
of millions of dollars in new infrastructure and operations 
at Administration space facilities to meet the needs of civil, 
national security, and commercial space activities, the Ad-
ministration should seek to leverage such investments and 
the resources and capabilities of State and local govern-
ments. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to Congress a report describing— 
(1) existing partnerships with State and local 
governments at Administration facilities; 
(2) past and current investments and partner-
ships in facility infrastructure and operations with 
State and local government that benefitted Federal, 
State, and commercial users; 
(3) the contracting mechanisms used and the av-
erage response time from a facility infrastructure 
partnership proposal to approval by the Administra-
tion; 
(4) current or prospective opportunities for Fed-
eral-State matching grant funding to support shared 
infrastructure; 
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(5) the benefits and challenges associated with 
Federal-State infrastructure partnerships; and 
(6) how, if at all, the Administration should ex-
pand Federal-State partnerships to better meet the 
needs of civil, national security, and commercial 
space activities. 
SEC. 610. SECURITY MANAGEMENT OF FOREIGN NATIONAL 
ACCESS. 
The Administrator shall notify the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate when the agency has implemented 
the information technology security recommendations from 
the National Academy of Public Administration on foreign 
national access management. 
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Union Calendar No. 853 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5503 
[Report No. 115–1102] 
A BILL 
To authorize the programs of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration for fiscal years 
2018 and 2019, and for other purposes. 
DECEMBER 21, 2018 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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