I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6638 
To require a report on merits and options for establishing an institute relating 
to space resources, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 11, 2025 
Mrs. FOUSHEE (for herself and Mr. WEBSTER of Florida) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology 
A BILL 
To require a report on merits and options for establishing 
an institute relating to space resources, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. REPORT ON MERITS AND OPTIONS FOR ESTAB-
LISHING AN INSTITUTE RELATING TO SPACE 
RESOURCES. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and 
Secretary of Commerce shall jointly submit to the Com-
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mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the 
merits of, and options for, establishing an institute relat-
ing to space resources to advance the objectives of NASA 
and the Department of Commerce in maintaining United 
States preeminence in space. Such objectives shall include 
the following: 
(1) Identifying, developing, and distributing 
space resources, including by encouraging the devel-
opment of foundational science, industrial capability, 
and technology. 
(2) Reducing the technological and business 
risks associated with identifying, developing, and dis-
tributing space resources. 
(3) Research to maximize the responsible use of 
space resources. 
(4) Developing options for using space re-
sources to carry out the following. 
(A) Support current and future space ar-
chitectures, programs, business, and missions. 
(B) Enable such architectures, programs, 
business, and missions that would not otherwise 
be possible. 
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(C) Supplement the supply of such re-
sources available on Earth. 
(b) ADDITIONAL MATTERS.—The report required 
under subsection (a) shall also include the following as-
sessments of the Administrator of NASA and the Sec-
retary of Commerce: 
(1) Whether a virtual or physical institute relat-
ing to space resources is most cost effective and ap-
propriate. 
(2) Whether partnering with institutions of 
higher education and the aerospace industry, and 
the extractive industry as appropriate, would be ef-
fective in increasing information available to the in-
stitute with respect to advancing the objectives de-
scribed in such subsection. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) EXTRACTIVE
INDUSTRY.—The term ‘‘ex-
tractive industry’’ means companies and individuals 
involved in the processes of extracting, including 
mining, quarrying, drilling, and dredging, raw, nat-
ural materials or energy sources. 
(2) INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
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