(1) after 15 years of continuous human pres-
ence in low-Earth orbit, the ISS continues to over-
come challenges and operate safely; 
(2) the ISS is a unique testbed for future space 
exploration systems development, including long-du-
ration space travel; 
(3) the expansion of partnerships, scientific re-
search, and commercial applications of the ISS is es-
sential to ensuring the greatest return on invest-
ments made by the United States and its inter-
national space partners in the development, assem-
bly, and operations of that unique facility; 
(4) utilization of the ISS will sustain United 
States leadership and progress in human space ex-
ploration by— 
(A) facilitating the commercialization and 
economic development of low-Earth orbit; 
(B) serving as a testbed for technologies 
and a platform for scientific research and devel-
opment; and 
(C) serving as an orbital facility enabling 
research upon— 
(i) the health, well-being, and per-
formance of humans in space; and 
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(ii) the development of in-space sys-
tems enabling human space exploration be-
yond low-Earth orbit; and 
(5) the ISS provides a platform for funda-
mental, microgravity, discovery-based space life and 
physical sciences research that is critical for ena-
bling space exploration, protecting humans in space, 
increasing pathways for commercial space develop-
ment that depend on advances in basic research, and 
contributes to advancing science, technology, engi-
neering, and mathematics research. 
(b) OBJECTIVES.—The primary objectives of the ISS 
program shall be— 
(1) to achieve the long-term goal and objectives 
under section 202 of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 
U.S.C. 18312); and 
(2) to pursue a research program that advances 
knowledge and provides other benefits to the Nation. 
(c) CONTINUATION OF THE ISS.—Section 501 of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Author-
ization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18351) is amended to read 
as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 501. CONTINUATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION. 
‘‘(a) POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES.—It shall be 
the policy of the United States, in consultation with its 
international partners in the ISS program, to support full 
and complete utilization of the ISS through at least 2024. 
‘‘(b) NASA ACTION.—In furtherance of the policy set 
forth in subsection (a), NASA shall— 
‘‘(1) pursue international, commercial, and 
intragovernmental means to maximize ISS logistics 
supply, maintenance, and operational capabilities, 
reduce risks to ISS systems sustainability, and offset 
and minimize United States operations costs relating 
to the ISS; 
‘‘(2) utilize, to the extent practicable, the ISS 
for the development of capabilities and technologies 
needed for the future of human space exploration 
beyond low-Earth orbit; and 
‘‘(3) utilize, if practical and cost effective, the 
ISS for Science Mission Directorate missions in low- 
Earth orbit.’’. 
SEC. 302. TRANSPORTATION TO ISS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that reliance on for-
eign carriers for United States crew transfer is unaccept-
able, and the Nation’s human space flight program must 
acquire the capability to launch United States Government 
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astronauts on vehicles using United States rockets from 
United States soil as soon as it is safe, reliable, and af-
fordable to do so. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS ON COMMERCIAL CREW 
PROGRAM AND COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY SERVICES PRO-
GRAM.—It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) once developed and certified to meet the Ad-
ministration’s safety and reliability requirements, 
United States commercially provided crew transpor-
tation systems offer the potential of serving as the 
primary means of transporting United States Gov-
ernment astronauts and international partner astro-
nauts to and from the ISS and serving as ISS crew 
rescue vehicles; 
(2) the budgetary assumptions used by the Ad-
ministration in its planning for the Commercial 
Crew Program have consistently assumed signifi-
cantly higher funding levels than have been author-
ized and appropriated by Congress; 
(3) credibility in the Administration’s budgetary 
estimates for the Commercial Crew Program can be 
enhanced by an independently developed cost esti-
mate; 
(4) such credibility in budgetary estimates is an 
important factor in understanding program risk; 
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(5) United States access to low-Earth orbit is 
paramount to the continued success of the ISS and 
ISS National Laboratory; 
(6) a stable and successful Commercial Resup-
ply Services Program and Commercial Crew Pro-
gram are critical to ensuring timely provisioning of 
the ISS and to reestablishing the capability to 
launch United States Government astronauts from 
United States soil into orbit, ending reliance upon 
Russian transport of United States Government as-
tronauts to the ISS which has not been possible 
since the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 
2011; 
(7) NASA should build upon the success of the 
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Pro-
gram and Commercial Resupply Services Program 
that have allowed private sector companies to part-
ner with NASA to deliver cargo and scientific experi-
ments to the ISS since 2012; 
(8) the 21st Century Launch Complex Program 
has enabled significant modernization and infra-
structure improvements at launch sites across the 
United States to support NASA’s Commercial Re-
supply Services Program and other civil and com-
mercial space flight missions; and 
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