H. R. 1702—4
(4) Each of the studies and reports required by paragraphs
(1), (2), and (3) shall include consideration of the potential role
of State governments as brokers in promoting commercial participa-
tion in the International Space Station program.
SEC. 102. COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH AMENDMENTS.
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Chapter 701 of title 49, United States Code,
is amended—
(1) in the table of sections—
(A) by amending the item relating to section 70104
to read as follows:
‘‘70104. Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries.’’;
(B) by amending the item relating to section 70108
to read as follows:
‘‘70108. Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and
reentry sites, and reentries.’’;
(C) by amending the item relating to section 70109
to read as follows:
‘‘70109. Preemption of scheduled launches or reentries.’’;
and
(D) by adding at the end the following new items:
‘‘70120. Regulations.
‘‘70121. Report to Congress.’’.
(2) in section 70101—
(A) 
by 
inserting 
‘‘microgravity 
research,’’ 
after
‘‘information services,’’ in subsection (a)(3);
(B) by inserting ‘‘, reentry,’’ after ‘‘launching’’ both
places it appears in subsection (a)(4);
(C) by inserting ‘‘, reentry vehicles,’’ after ‘‘launch
vehicles’’ in subsection (a)(5);
(D) by inserting ‘‘and reentry services’’ after ‘‘launch
services’’ in subsection (a)(6);
(E) by inserting ‘‘, reentries,’’ after ‘‘launches’’ both
places it appears in subsection (a)(7);
(F) by inserting ‘‘, reentry sites,’’ after ‘‘launch sites’’
in subsection (a)(8);
(G) by inserting ‘‘and reentry services’’ after ‘‘launch
services’’ in subsection (a)(8);
(H) by inserting ‘‘reentry sites,’’ after ‘‘launch sites,’’
in subsection (a)(9);
(I) by inserting ‘‘and reentry site’’ after ‘‘launch site’’
in subsection (a)(9);
(J) by inserting ‘‘, reentry vehicles,’’ after ‘‘launch
vehicles’’ in subsection (b)(2);
(K) by striking ‘‘launch’’ in subsection (b)(2)(A);
(L) by inserting ‘‘and reentry’’ after ‘‘conduct of
commercial launch’’ in subsection (b)(3);
(M) by striking ‘‘launch’’ after ‘‘and transfer commer-
cial’’ in subsection (b)(3); and
(N) by inserting ‘‘and development of reentry sites,’’
after ‘‘launch-site support facilities,’’ in subsection (b)(4);
(3) in section 70102—
(A) in paragraph (3)—
H. R. 1702—5
(i) by striking ‘‘and any payload’’ and inserting
in lieu thereof ‘‘or reentry vehicle and any payload
from Earth’’;
(ii) by striking the period at the end of subpara-
graph (C) and inserting in lieu thereof a comma; and
(iii) by adding after subparagraph (C) the follow-
ing:
‘‘including activities involved in the preparation of a launch
vehicle or payload for launch, when those activities take place
at a launch site in the United States.’’;
(B) by inserting ‘‘or reentry vehicle’’ after ‘‘means of
a launch vehicle’’ in paragraph (8);
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (10), (11), and (12)
as paragraphs (14), (15), and (16), respectively;
(D) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new
paragraphs:
‘‘(10) ‘reenter’ and ‘reentry’ mean to return or attempt
to return, purposefully, a reentry vehicle and its payload, if
any, from Earth orbit or from outer space to Earth.
‘‘(11) ‘reentry services’ means—
‘‘(A) activities involved in the preparation of a reentry
vehicle and its payload, if any, for reentry; and
‘‘(B) the conduct of a reentry.
‘‘(12) ‘reentry site’ means the location on Earth to which
a reentry vehicle is intended to return (as defined in a license
the Secretary issues or transfers under this chapter).
‘‘(13) ‘reentry vehicle’ means a vehicle designed to return
from Earth orbit or outer space to Earth, or a reusable launch
vehicle designed to return from Earth orbit or outer space
to Earth, substantially intact.’’; and
(E) by inserting ‘‘or reentry services’’ after ‘‘launch
services’’ each place it appears in paragraph (15), as so
redesignated by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph;
(4) in section 70103(b)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘AND REENTRIES’’ after ‘‘LAUNCHES’’
in the subsection heading;
(B) by inserting ‘‘and reentries’’ after ‘‘commercial space
launches’’ in paragraph (1); and
(C) by inserting ‘‘and reentry’’ after ‘‘space launch’’
in paragraph (2);
(5) in section 70104—
(A) by amending the section designation and heading
to read as follows:
‘‘§ 70104. 
Restrictions 
on 
launches, 
operations, 
and
reentries’’;
(B) by inserting ‘‘or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry
vehicle,’’ after ‘‘operate a launch site’’ each place it appears
in subsection (a);
(C) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘launch or operation’’
in subsection (a)(3) and (4);
(D) in subsection (b)—
(i) by striking ‘‘launch license’’ and inserting in
lieu thereof ‘‘license’’;
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or reenter’’ after ‘‘may launch’’;
and
H. R. 1702—6
(iii) by inserting ‘‘or reentering’’ after ‘‘related to
launching’’; and
(E) in subsection (c)—
(i)
by amending the subsection heading to read as follows:
‘‘PREVENTING LAUNCHES AND REENTRIES.—’’;
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘prevent the
launch’’; and
(iii) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘decides the
launch’’;
(6) in section 70105—
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘A person may apply’’
in subsection (a);
(B) by striking ‘‘receiving an application’’ both places
it appears in subsection (a) and inserting in lieu thereof
‘‘accepting an application in accordance with criteria estab-
lished pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(D)’’;
(C) by adding at the end of subsection (a) the following:
‘‘The Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Science
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a
written notice not later than 30 days after any occurrence
when a license is not issued within the deadline established
by this subsection.
‘‘(2) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary may establish
procedures for safety approvals of launch vehicles, reentry vehicles,
safety systems, processes, services, or personnel that may be used
in conducting licensed commercial space launch or reentry activi-
ties.’’;
(D) by inserting ‘‘or a reentry site, or the reentry
of a reentry vehicle,’’ after ‘‘operation of a launch site’’
in subsection (b)(1);
(E) by striking ‘‘or operation’’ and inserting in lieu
thereof ‘‘, operation, or reentry’’ in subsection (b)(2)(A);
(F) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subsection (b)(2)(B);
(G) by striking the period at the end of subsection
(b)(2)(C) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘; and’’;
(H) by adding at the end of subsection (b)(2) the follow-
ing new subparagraph:
‘‘(D) regulations establishing criteria for accepting or reject-
ing an application for a license under this chapter within 60
days after receipt of such application.’’; and
(I) by inserting ‘‘, including the requirement to obtain
a license,’’ after ‘‘waive a requirement’’ in subsection (b)(3);
(7) in section 70106(a)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘or reentry site’’ after ‘‘observer at
a launch site’’;
(B) by inserting ‘‘or reentry vehicle’’ after ‘‘assemble
a launch vehicle’’; and
(C) by inserting ‘‘or reentry vehicle’’ after ‘‘with a
launch vehicle’’;
(8) in section 70108—
(A) by amending the section designation and heading
to read as follows:
H. R. 1702—7
‘‘§ 70108. Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, oper-
ation of launch sites and reentry sites, and
reentries’’;
and
(B) in subsection (a)—
(i) by inserting ‘‘or reentry site, or reentry of a
reentry vehicle,’’ after ‘‘operation of a launch site’’;
and
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘launch or oper-
ation’’;
(9) in section 70109—
(A) by amending the section designation and heading
to read as follows:
‘‘§ 70109. Preemption of scheduled launches or reentries’’;
(B) in subsection (a)—
(i) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘ensure that a
launch’’;
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, reentry site,’’ after ‘‘United
States Government launch site’’;
(iii) by inserting ‘‘or reentry date commitment’’
after ‘‘launch date commitment’’;
(iv) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘obtained for
a launch’’;
(v) by inserting ‘‘, reentry site,’’ after ‘‘access to
a launch site’’;
(vi) by inserting ‘‘, or services related to a reentry,’’
after ‘‘amount for launch services’’; and
(vii) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘the scheduled
launch’’; and
(C) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after
‘‘prompt launching’’;
(10) in section 70110—
(A) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘prevent the launch’’
in subsection (a)(2); and
(B) by inserting ‘‘or reentry site, or reentry of a reentry
vehicle,’’ after ‘‘operation of a launch site’’ in subsection
(a)(3)(B);
(11) in section 70111—
(A) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘launch’’ in sub-
section (a)(1)(A);
(B) by inserting ‘‘and reentry services’’ after ‘‘launch
services’’ in subsection (a)(1)(B);
(C) by inserting ‘‘or reentry services’’ after ‘‘or launch
services’’ in subsection (a)(2);
(D) by striking ‘‘source.’’ in subsection (a)(2) and insert-
ing ‘‘source, whether such source is located on or off a
Federal range.’’;
(E) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘commercial launch’’
both places it appears in subsection (b)(1);
(F) by inserting ‘‘or reentry services’’ after ‘‘launch
services’’ in subsection (b)(2)(C);
(G) by inserting after subsection (b)(2) the following
new paragraph:
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall ensure the establishment of uniform
guidelines for, and consistent implementation of, this section by
all Federal agencies.’’;
H. R. 1702—8
(H) by striking ‘‘or its payload for launch’’ in subsection
(d) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘or reentry vehicle, or
the payload of either, for launch or reentry’’; and
(I) by inserting ‘‘, reentry vehicle,’’ after ‘‘manufacturer
of the launch vehicle’’ in subsection (d);
(12) in section 70112—
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘launch or reentry’’
after ‘‘(1) When a’’;
(B) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘one launch’’ in
subsection (a)(3);
(C) by inserting ‘‘or reentry services’’ after ‘‘launch
services’’ in subsection (a)(4);
(D) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ‘‘launch or reentry’’
after ‘‘(1) A’’;
(E) by inserting ‘‘or reentry services’’ after ‘‘launch
services’’ each place it appears in subsection (b);
(F) by inserting ‘‘applicable’’ after ‘‘carried out under
the’’ in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b);
(G) by inserting ‘‘OR REENTRIES’’ after ‘‘LAUNCHES’’ in
the heading for subsection (e);
(H) by inserting ‘‘or reentry site or a reentry’’ after
‘‘launch site’’ in subsection (e); and
(I) in subsection (f ), by inserting ‘‘launch or reentry’’
after ‘‘carried out under a’’;
(13) in section 70113(a)(1) and (d)(1) and (2), by inserting
‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘one launch’’ each place it appears;
(14) in section 70115(b)(1)(D)(i)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘reentry site,’’ after ‘‘launch site,’’;
and
(B) by inserting ‘‘or reentry vehicle’’ after ‘‘launch
vehicle’’ both places it appears;
(15) in section 70117—
(A) by inserting ‘‘or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry
vehicle’’ after ‘‘operate a launch site’’ in subsection (a);
(B) by inserting ‘‘or reentry’’ after ‘‘approval of a space
launch’’ in subsection (d);
(C) by amending subsection (f ) to read as follows:
‘‘(f ) LAUNCH NOT AN EXPORT; REENTRY NOT AN IMPORT.—A
launch vehicle, reentry vehicle, or payload that is launched or
reentered is not, because of the launch or reentry, an export or
import, respectively, for purposes of a law controlling exports or
imports, except that payloads launched pursuant to foreign trade
zone procedures as provided for under the Foreign Trade Zones
Act (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u) shall be considered exports with regard
to customs entry.’’; and
(D) in subsection (g)—
(i) by striking ‘‘operation of a launch vehicle or
launch site,’’ in paragraph (1) and inserting in lieu
thereof ‘‘reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or
reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry
site,’’; and
(ii) by inserting ‘‘reentry,’’ after ‘‘launch,’’ in para-
graph (2); and
(16) by adding at the end the following new sections:
H. R. 1702—9
‘‘§ 70120. Regulations
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation, within 9
months after the date of the enactment of this section, shall issue
regulations to carry out this chapter that include—
‘‘(1) guidelines for industry and State governments to obtain
sufficient insurance coverage for potential damages to third
parties;
‘‘(2) procedures for requesting and obtaining licenses to
launch a commercial launch vehicle;
‘‘(3) procedures for requesting and obtaining operator
licenses for launch;
‘‘(4) procedures for requesting and obtaining launch site
operator licenses; and
‘‘(5) procedures for the application of government indem-
nification.
‘‘(b) REENTRY.—The Secretary of Transportation, within 6
months after the date of the enactment of this section, shall issue
a notice of proposed rulemaking to carry out this chapter that
includes—
‘‘(1) procedures for requesting and obtaining licenses to
reenter a reentry vehicle;
‘‘(2) procedures for requesting and obtaining operator
licenses for reentry; and
‘‘(3) procedures for requesting and obtaining reentry site
operator licenses.
‘‘§ 70121. Report to Congress
‘‘The Secretary of Transportation shall submit to Congress an
annual report to accompany the President’s budget request that—
‘‘(1) describes all activities undertaken under this chapter,
including a description of the process for the application for
and approval of licenses under this chapter and recommenda-
tions for legislation that may further commercial launches and
reentries; and
‘‘(2) reviews the performance of the regulatory activities
and the effectiveness of the Office of Commercial Space
Transportation.’’.
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 70119 of title
49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘§ 70119. Authorization of appropriations
‘‘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) $6,275,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30,
1999; and
‘‘(2) $6,600,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2000.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection
(a)(6)(B) shall take effect upon the effective date of final regulations
issued pursuant to section 70105(b)(2)(D) of title 49, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a)(6)(H).
SEC. 103. LAUNCH VOUCHER DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
Section 504 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1993 (15 U.S.C. 5803) is
amended—
H. R. 1702—10
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking ‘‘the Office of Commercial Programs
within’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘Such program shall not be effective
after September 30, 1995.’’;
(2) by striking subsection (c); and
(3) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections
(c) and (d), respectively.
SEC. 104. PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES GLOBAL POSITIONING SYS-
TEM STANDARDS.
(a) FINDING.—The Congress finds that the Global Positioning
System, including satellites, signal equipment, ground stations, data
links, and associated command and control facilities, has become
an essential element in civil, scientific, and military space develop-
ment because of the emergence of a United States commercial
industry which provides Global Positioning System equipment and
related services.
(b) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.—In order to support and sus-
tain the Global Positioning System in a manner that will most
effectively contribute to the national security, public safety, sci-
entific, and economic interests of the United States, the Congress
encourages the President to—
(1) ensure the operation of the Global Positioning System
on a continuous worldwide basis free of direct user fees;
(2) enter into international agreements that promote
cooperation with foreign governments and international
organizations to—
(A) establish the Global Positioning System and its
augmentations as an acceptable international standard;
and
(B) eliminate any foreign barriers to applications of
the Global Positioning System worldwide; and
(3) provide clear direction and adequate resources to the
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and
Information so that on an international basis the Assistant
Secretary can—
(A) achieve and sustain efficient management of the
electromagnetic spectrum used by the Global Positioning
System; and
(B) protect that spectrum from disruption and inter-
ference.
SEC. 105. ACQUISITION OF SPACE SCIENCE DATA.
(a) ACQUISITION FROM COMMERCIAL PROVIDERS.—The Adminis-
trator shall, to the extent possible and while satisfying the scientific
or educational requirements of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, and where appropriate, of other Federal agencies
and scientific researchers, acquire, where cost effective, space
science data from a commercial provider.
(b) TREATMENT OF SPACE SCIENCE DATA AS COMMERCIAL ITEM
UNDER ACQUISITION LAWS.—Acquisitions of space science data by
the Administrator shall be carried out in accordance with applicable
acquisition laws and regulations (including chapters 137 and 140
of title 10, United States Code). For purposes of such law and
regulations, space science data shall be considered to be a commer-
cial item. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude
H. R. 1702—11
the United States from acquiring, through contracts with commer-
cial providers, sufficient rights in data to meet the needs of the
scientific and educational community or the needs of other govern-
ment activities.
(c) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘space
science data’’ includes scientific data concerning—
(1) the elemental and mineralogical resources of the moon,
asteroids, planets and their moons, and comets;
(2) microgravity acceleration; and
(3) solar storm monitoring.
(d) SAFETY STANDARDS.—Nothing in this section shall be con-
strued to prohibit the Federal Government from requiring compli-
ance with applicable safety standards.
(e) LIMITATION.—This section does not authorize the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration to provide financial assist-
ance for the development of commercial systems for the collection
of space science data.
SEC. 106. ADMINISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL SPACE CENTERS.
The Administrator shall administer the Commercial Space Cen-
ter program in a coordinated manner from National Aeronautics
and Space Administration headquarters in Washington, D.C.
SEC. 107. SOURCES OF EARTH SCIENCE DATA.
(a) ACQUISITION.—The Administrator shall, to the extent pos-
sible and while satisfying the scientific or educational requirements
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and where
appropriate, of other Federal agencies and scientific researchers,
acquire, where cost-effective, space-based and airborne Earth
remote sensing data, services, distribution, and applications from
a commercial provider.
(b) TREATMENT
AS COMMERCIAL ITEM UNDER ACQUISITION
LAWS.—Acquisitions by the Administrator of the data, services,
distribution, and applications referred to in subsection (a) shall
be carried out in accordance with applicable acquisition laws and
regulations (including chapters 137 and 140 of title 10, United
States Code). For purposes of such law and regulations, such data,
services, distribution, and applications shall be considered to be
a commercial item. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed
to preclude the United States from acquiring, through contracts
with commercial providers, sufficient rights in data to meet the
needs of the scientific and educational community or the needs
of other government activities.
(c) STUDY.—(1) The Administrator shall conduct a study to
determine the extent to which the baseline scientific requirements
of Earth Science can be met by commercial providers, and how
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will meet such
requirements which cannot be met by commercial providers.
(2) The study conducted under this subsection shall—
(A) make recommendations to promote the availability of
information from the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration to commercial providers to enable commercial providers
to better meet the baseline scientific requirements of Earth
Science;
(B) make recommendations to promote the dissemination
to commercial providers of information on advanced technology
research and development performed by or for the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration; and
H. R. 1702—12
(C) identify policy, regulatory, and legislative barriers to
the implementation of the recommendations made under this
subsection.
(3) The results of the study conducted under this subsection
shall be transmitted to the Congress within 6 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) SAFETY STANDARDS.—Nothing in this section shall be con-
strued to prohibit the Federal Government from requiring compli-
ance with applicable safety standards.
(e) ADMINISTRATION
AND EXECUTION.—This section shall be
carried out as part of the Commercial Remote Sensing Program
at the Stennis Space Center.
(f ) REMOTE SENSING.—
(1) APPLICATION CONTENTS.—Section 201(b) of the Land
Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 5621(b)) is
amended—
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘NATIONAL SECURITY.—’’;
and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(2) The Secretary, within 6 months after the date of the
enactment of the Commercial Space Act of 1998, shall publish
in the Federal Register a complete and specific list of all information
required to comprise a complete application for a license under
this title. An application shall be considered complete when the
applicant has provided all information required by the list most
recently published in the Federal Register before the date the
application was first submitted. Unless the Secretary has, within
30 days after receipt of an application, notified the applicant of
information necessary to complete an application, the Secretary
may not deny the application on the basis of the absence of any
such information.’’.
(2) NOTIFICATION OF AGREEMENTS.—Section 202(b)(6) of the
Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 5622(b)(6))
is amended by inserting ‘‘significant or substantial’’ after ‘‘Sec-
retary of any’’.
TITLE II—FEDERAL ACQUISITION OF
SPACE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
SEC. 
201. 
REQUIREMENT 
TO 
PROCURE 
COMMERCIAL 
SPACE
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in this section,
the Federal Government shall acquire space transportation services
from United States commercial providers whenever such services
are required in the course of its activities. To the maximum extent
practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to
accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of
United States commercial providers.
(b) EXCEPTIONS.—The Federal Government shall not be
required to acquire space transportation services under subsection
(a) if, on a case-by-case basis, the Administrator or, in the case
of a national security issue, the Secretary of the Air Force, deter-
mines that—
(1) a payload requires the unique capabilities of the Space
Shuttle;
H. R. 1702—13
(2) cost effective space transportation services that meet
specific mission requirements would not be reasonably available
from United States commercial providers when required;
(3) the use of space transportation services from United
States commercial providers poses an unacceptable risk of loss
of a unique scientific opportunity;
(4) the use of space transportation services from United
States commercial providers is inconsistent with national secu-
rity objectives;
(5) the use of space transportation services from United
States commercial providers is inconsistent with international
agreements for international collaborative efforts relating to
science and technology;
(6) it is more cost effective to transport a payload in
conjunction with a test or demonstration of a space transpor-
tation vehicle owned by the Federal Government; or
(7) a payload can make use of the available cargo space
on a Space Shuttle mission as a secondary payload, and such
payload is consistent with the requirements of research,
development, demonstration, scientific, commercial, and edu-
cational programs authorized by the Administrator.
Nothing in this section shall prevent the Administrator from plan-
ning or negotiating agreements with foreign entities for the launch
of Federal Government payloads for international collaborative
efforts relating to science and technology.
(c) DELAYED EFFECT.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to space
transportation services and space transportation vehicles acquired
or owned by the Federal Government before the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, or with respect to which a contract for such
acquisition or ownership has been entered into before such date.
(d) HISTORICAL PURPOSES.—This section shall not be construed
to prohibit the Federal Government from acquiring, owning, or
maintaining space transportation vehicles solely for historical dis-
play purposes.
SEC. 202. ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION
SERVICES.
(a) TREATMENT OF COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION SERV-
ICES AS COMMERCIAL ITEM UNDER ACQUISITION LAWS.—Acquisitions
of space transportation services by the Federal Government shall
be carried out in accordance with applicable acquisition laws and
regulations (including chapters 137 and 140 of title 10, United
States Code). For purposes of such law and regulations, space
transportation services shall be considered to be a commercial item.
(b) SAFETY STANDARDS.—Nothing in this section shall be con-
strued to prohibit the Federal Government from requiring compli-
ance with applicable safety standards.
SEC. 203. LAUNCH SERVICES PURCHASE ACT OF 1990 AMENDMENTS.
The Launch Services Purchase Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 2465b
et seq.) is amended—
(1) by striking section 202;
(2) in section 203—
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as para-
graphs (1) and (2), respectively;
(3) by striking sections 204 and 205; and
(4) in section 206—