I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1508 
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 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Space Resource Explo-
ration and Utilization Act of 2015’’. 
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SEC. 2. TITLE 51 AMENDMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle V of title 51, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing 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 
an asteroid. 
‘‘(3) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means any of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and any other common-
wealth, territory, or possession of the United States. 
‘‘(4) UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL SPACE RE-
SOURCE
UTILIZATION
ENTITY.—The term ‘United 
States commercial space resource utilization entity’ 
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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 
jurisdiction of the courts of the United States. 
‘‘§ 51302. Commercialization of space resource explo-
ration and utilization 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President, acting through 
appropriate Federal agencies, shall— 
‘‘(1) facilitate the commercial exploration and 
utilization of space resources to meet national needs; 
‘‘(2) discourage government barriers to the de-
velopment of economically viable, safe, and stable in-
dustries for the exploration and utilization of space 
resources in manners consistent with the existing 
international obligations of the United States; and 
‘‘(3) promote the right of United States com-
mercial entities to explore outer space and utilize 
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space resources, in accordance with the existing 
international obligations of the United States, free 
from harmful interference, and to transfer or sell 
such resources. 
‘‘(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this section, the Presi-
dent 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 
international obligations of the United States with 
respect to the exploration and utilization of space re-
sources. 
‘‘§ 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 
property rights thereto, consistent with applicable provi-
sions of Federal law. 
‘‘(b) SAFETY
OF OPERATIONS.—A United States 
commercial space resource utilization entity shall avoid 
causing harmful interference in outer space. 
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‘‘(c) CIVIL ACTION FOR RELIEF FROM HARMFUL IN-
TERFERENCE.—A United States commercial space re-
source utilization entity may bring a civil action for appro-
priate legal or equitable relief, or both, under this chapter 
for any action by another entity subject to United States 
jurisdiction causing harmful interference to its operations 
with respect 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 explo-
ration and utilization of asteroid resources. 
‘‘(e) EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION.—The district courts 
of the United States shall have original jurisdiction over 
an action under this chapter without regard to the amount 
in controversy.’’. 
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(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’’. 
Æ 
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