(C) in section 71102(1), by striking ‘‘track-
ing device’’ and inserting ‘‘tracking device to’’. 
(2) CHAPTER 513.—The table of chapters of title 
51, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
item related to chapter 513 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘513. Space Resource Commercial Exploration and Utili-
zation ...............................................................................51301’’. 
(3) CHAPTER 701.—The table of chapters of title 
51, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
item related to chapter 701 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘701. Use of Space Launch System or Alternatives ...............70101’’. 
SEC. 7. OFFICE OF SPACE COMMERCE. 
Section 50702 of title 51, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end before 
the period ‘‘, which shall be located in the principal 
physical location of the Office of the Secretary of 
Commerce’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘a senior execu-
tive and shall be compensated at a level in the Senior 
Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5 as de-
termined by the Secretary of Commerce’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘appointed by the President and confirmed by the 
Senate. The Director shall be the Assistant Secretary 
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of Commerce for Space Commerce and shall report di-
rectly to the Secretary of Commerce’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) to authorize and supervise the operations of 
United States nongovernmental entities in outer 
space, pursuant to chapter 801 of this title; 
‘‘(7) to authorize and supervise the operations of 
space-based remote sensing systems pursuant to chap-
ter 802 of this title; and 
‘‘(8) to facilitate and promote the development of 
best practices among operators of space objects and 
space-based remote sensing systems under this subtitle 
to address substantial risks to the physical safety of 
Federal Government space objects, including the risk 
of on-orbit collisions.’’. 
SEC. 8. RESTRICTION ON PREVENTING LAUNCHES AND RE-
ENTRIES OF CERTIFIED SPACE OBJECTS. 
Section 50904(c) of title 51, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘No launch 
or reentry may be prevented under this authority on the 
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basis of national security, foreign policy, or international 
obligations of the United States, including under the cov-
ered treaties on outer space (as defined in section 80101) 
if the payload has received a certification to operate as a 
space object under chapter 801.’’. 
SEC. 9. REPORT ON REGISTRATION OF SPACE OBJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, acting 
through the Office of Space Commerce and in consultation 
with the Private Space Activity Advisory Committee estab-
lished under section 80109 of title 51, United States Code, 
shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report on the implementation of the space object registra-
tion obligations of the United States and other countries 
under Article VIII of the Outer Space Treaty and the Con-
vention on Registration of Space Objects. 
(b) CONTENTS
OF REPORT.—The report required 
under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) an identification of the practices and proce-
dures among countries that are members of the Outer 
Space Treaty and the Convention on Registration of 
Space Objects in implementing and complying with 
the registration obligations contained in the treaties; 
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(2) a description of any existing practices and 
procedures of the Federal Government for the registra-
tion of nongovernmental space objects; and 
(3) recommendations on how the registration of 
space objects in the United States could be improved 
to benefit the United States, including enabling 
United States leadership in commercial space activi-
ties. 
SEC. 10. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to Congress a report on removing the Office 
of Commercial Space Transportation from under the juris-
diction of the Federal Aviation Administration and reestab-
lishing the Office under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of 
Transportation. Such report shall include— 
(1) the identification of key practices for success-
ful organizational transitions; 
(2) the advantages and disadvantages of the re-
moval and reestablishment with respect to the ability 
of the Office to continue to coordinate and commu-
nicate with Federal Aviation Administration on air-
space issues; and 
(3) the identification of any issues that are pre-
venting the Office from fully carrying out its statu-
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tory mandate, and if such issues would persist re-
gardless of organizational location of the Office with-
in the Department of Transportation. 
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Union Calendar No. 498 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2809 
[Report No. 115–649] 
A BILL 
To amend title 51, United States Code, to provide 
for the authorization and supervision of non-
governmental space activities, and for other pur-
poses. 
APRIL 24, 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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