I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1526
To promote the international competitiveness of the United States commercial
space industry, to ensure access to space for the Federal Government
and the private sector, and to minimize the opportunities for the transfer
to other nations of critical satellite technologies.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 22, 1999
Mr. WELDON of Florida (for himself and Mrs. CAPPS) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science
A BILL
To promote the international competitiveness of the United
States commercial space industry, to ensure access to
space for the Federal Government and the private sector,
and to minimize the opportunities for the transfer to
other nations of critical satellite technologies.
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
Competitiveness Act of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) the commercial space industry is an essen-
tial part of the United States economy and opportu-
nities for United States companies are growing as
international markets expand;
(2) the Federal Government should continue to
encourage, facilitate, and promote the use of the
United States commercial space industry in order to
continue United States aerospace preeminence;
(3) the United States commercial space indus-
try must be competitive in the international market-
place;
(4) Federal Government policies should recog-
nize the responsibility of the United States under
international treaties for activities conducted by
United States citizens in space;
(5) the United States must limit the opportuni-
ties for the transfer of critical satellite technologies
by providing efficient range infrastructure to ensure
access to space for both the Government and private
sector;
(6) the United States must maintain a competi-
tive advantage in international commercial space by
providing the private sector with equal access to
launch opportunities, launch property, and launch
services at the Nation’s ranges;
(7) infrastructure at United States launch
ranges is outdated and inefficient and the rate at
which launch opportunities are lost due to range
failures has tripled in the past 2 years;
(8) demand for range infrastructure at Federal
Government ranges will exceed supply beginning in
the year 2002; and
(9) the current level of Federal funding for the
Nation’s launch ranges is inadequate to provide the
Nation’s projected demand for range capacity.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 70102 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘, when those
activities take place at a launch site in the United
States’’; and
(2) in paragraph (4) by inserting ‘‘or improved
or unimproved real property or facilities used in,’’
after ‘‘or used in,’’.
SEC. 4. GENERAL AUTHORITY.
Section 70103(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code,
is amended by striking ‘‘encourage, facilitate, and pro-
mote’’ and inserting ‘‘encourage and facilitate’’.
SEC. 5. LAUNCH SCHEDULES.
Section 70109 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection:
‘‘(c) SCHEDULING.—In the scheduling of launches at
a United States Government launch site, private sector
launches shall be provided the greatest possible access to
launch opportunities at the earliest dates possible at such
launch site.’’.
SEC. 6. ACQUIRING UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PROP-
ERTY AND SERVICES.
Section 70111 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(a) ACQUISITION.—The Secretary of Transportation
shall facilitate and encourage the acquisition by the pri-
vate sector and State governments of Federal property
and services, including utilities, for the support of com-
mercial launch efforts.’’;
(2) in subsection (b)(1)(A) by striking ‘‘and’’;
(3) in subsection (b)(1)(B) by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; or’’;
(4) by adding at the end of subsection (b)(1)
the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(C) the Government agency charges other
Government agencies.’’;
(5) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as
subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and
(6) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection:
‘‘(c) PUBLIC NOTICE.—At least 30 days before any
property is acquired pursuant to this section the head of
the agency from which the property is to be acquired shall
provide appropriate public notice of the proposed acquisi-
tion.’’.
SEC. 7. PAYING CLAIMS EXCEEDING LIABILITY INSURANCE.
Section 70113 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1) and subsection (d)(2)
by striking ‘‘launch or reentry’’ and inserting ‘‘li-
censed activity’’; and
(2) in subsection (f) by striking ‘‘1999’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2009’’.
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