I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8689 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to clarify the authority of the 
National Transportation Safety Board to investigate commercial space 
transportation accidents, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 9, 2022 
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. 
GRAVES of Missouri, and Mr. DEFAZIO) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture 
A BILL 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to clarify the author-
ity of the National Transportation Safety Board to inves-
tigate commercial space transportation accidents, 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. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commercial Space 
Transportation Safety Act of 2022’’. 
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SEC. 2. GENERAL AUTHORITY OF THE NATIONAL TRANS-
PORTATION SAFETY BOARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1131(a)(1) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as sub-
paragraph (G); and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(F) a commercial space transportation acci-
dent in which there is— 
‘‘(i) a fatality or significant injury of any 
individual, regardless of whether the individual 
was on board the commercial launch vehicle at 
the time of the accident; or 
‘‘(ii) substantial damage to property that is 
not associated with commercial space launch ac-
tivities and that is not located at the launch 
site; and’’. 
(b) OTHER
INVESTIGATIVE
AGENCIES.—Section 
1131(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) The Board shall seek to enter into a memo-
randum of agreement with any Government agency with 
the authority to certify a commercial space transportation 
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operation or investigate a commercial space transportation 
accident. Such memoranda shall delineate the conditions 
under and manner in which— 
‘‘(i) a commercial space transportation accident 
that may be investigated by the Board under sub-
paragraph (F) or (G) of paragraph (1) will instead 
be investigated by the other Government agency; and 
‘‘(ii) the Board will participate in such other 
Government agency’s investigation. 
‘‘(E) For an occurrence in commercial space trans-
portation other than an accident described in paragraph 
(1)(F), the Board may only investigate such occurrence— 
‘‘(i) in accordance with the terms of a memo-
randum of agreement with another Government 
agency described in subparagraph (D); or 
‘‘(ii) with the agreement of the Government 
agency responsible for investigating such occur-
rence.’’. 
(c) 
TECHNICAL
CORRECTIONS.—Section 
1131(a)(2)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘or (F)’’ and inserting ‘‘(F), or (G)’’. 
(d) SAVINGS PROVISION.—None of the amendments 
made by subsection (a) or (b) shall be construed to limit 
the authority of the National Transportation Safety Board 
to investigate any other commercial space transportation 
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accident that, in the judgement of the Board, falls under 
the authority of the Board under section 1131(a)(1)(G) 
(as redesignated by this Act). 
Æ 
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