IB 
Union Calendar No. 111 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1508 
[Report No. 114–153] 
To promote the development of a United States commercial space resource 
exploration and utilization industry and to increase the exploration and 
utilization of resources in outer space. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 19, 2015 
Mr. POSEY (for himself and Mr. KILMER) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
JUNE 15, 2015 
Additional sponsors: Mr. KATKO, Mr. BRIDENSTINE, Mr. MICA, Mr. BABIN, 
Mr. BYRNE, Mr. BROOKS of Alabama, and Mr. COLLINS of New York 
JUNE 15, 2015 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 19, 2015] 
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A BILL 
To promote the development of a United States commercial 
space resource exploration and utilization industry and 
to increase the exploration and utilization of resources 
in outer space. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Space Resource Explo-
ration and Utilization Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. TITLE 51 AMENDMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle V of title 51, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
chapter: 
‘‘CHAPTER 513—SPACE RESOURCE 
EXPLORATION AND UTILIZATION 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘51301. Definitions. 
‘‘51302. Commercialization of space resource exploration and utilization. 
‘‘51303. Legal framework. 
‘‘§ 51301. Definitions 
‘‘In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) SPACE
RESOURCE.—The term ‘space re-
source’ means a natural resource of any kind found 
in situ in outer space. 
‘‘(2) ASTEROID RESOURCE.—The term ‘asteroid 
resource’ means a space resource found on or within 
a single asteroid. 
‘‘(3) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means any of the 
several States, the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
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Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth, terri-
tory, or possession of the United States. 
‘‘(4) UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL SPACE RE-
SOURCE
UTILIZATION
ENTITY.—The term ‘United 
States commercial space resource utilization entity’ 
means an entity providing space resource exploration 
or utilization services, the control of which is held by 
persons other than a Federal, State, local, or foreign 
government, and that is— 
‘‘(A) duly organized under the laws of a 
State; 
‘‘(B) subject to the subject matter and per-
sonal jurisdiction of the courts of the United 
States; or 
‘‘(C) a foreign entity that has voluntarily 
submitted to the subject matter and personal ju-
risdiction of the courts of the United States. 
‘‘§ 51302. Commercialization of space resource explo-
ration and utilization 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President, acting through ap-
propriate Federal agencies, shall— 
‘‘(1) facilitate the commercial exploration and 
utilization of space resources to meet national needs; 
‘‘(2) discourage government barriers to the devel-
opment of economically viable, safe, and stable indus-
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tries for the exploration and utilization of space re-
sources in manners consistent with the existing inter-
national obligations of the United States; and 
‘‘(3) promote the right of United States commer-
cial entities to explore outer space and utilize space 
resources, in accordance with the existing inter-
national obligations of the United States, free from 
harmful interference, and to transfer or sell such re-
sources. 
‘‘(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this section, the President 
shall submit to Congress a report that contains rec-
ommendations for— 
‘‘(1) the allocation of responsibilities relating to 
the exploration and utilization of space resources 
among Federal agencies; and 
‘‘(2) any authorities necessary to meet the inter-
national obligations of the United States with respect 
to the exploration and utilization of space resources. 
‘‘§ 51303. Legal framework 
‘‘(a) PROPERTY RIGHTS.—Any asteroid resources ob-
tained in outer space are the property of the entity that 
obtained such resources, which shall be entitled to all prop-
erty rights thereto, consistent with applicable provisions of 
Federal law and existing international obligations. 
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‘‘(b) SAFETY OF OPERATIONS.—A United States com-
mercial space resource utilization entity shall avoid causing 
harmful interference in outer space. 
‘‘(c) CIVIL ACTION FOR RELIEF FROM HARMFUL IN-
TERFERENCE.—A United States commercial space resource 
utilization entity may bring a civil action for appropriate 
legal or equitable relief, or both, under this chapter for any 
action by another entity subject to United States jurisdic-
tion causing harmful interference to its operations with re-
spect to an asteroid resource utilization activity in outer 
space. 
‘‘(d) RULE OF DECISION.—In a civil action brought 
pursuant to subsection (c) with respect to an asteroid re-
source utilization activity in outer space, a court shall enter 
judgment in favor of the plaintiff if the court finds— 
‘‘(1) the plaintiff— 
‘‘(A) acted in accordance with all existing 
international obligations of the United States; 
and 
‘‘(B) was first in time to conduct the activ-
ity; and 
‘‘(2) the activity is reasonable for the exploration 
and utilization of asteroid resources. 
‘‘(e) EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION.—The district courts of 
the United States shall have original jurisdiction over an 
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action under this chapter without regard to the amount in 
controversy.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of chapters for 
title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end of the items for subtitle V the following: 
‘‘513. Space resource exploration and utilization ..................51301’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 111 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1508 
[Report No. 114–153] 
A BILL 
To promote the development of a United States 
commercial space resource exploration and utili-
zation industry and to increase the exploration 
and utilization of resources in outer space. 
JUNE 15, 2015 
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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