H. R. 302—211 
(2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table 
of chapters of title 51, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end of subtitle V the following: 
‘‘515. Office of Spaceports .....................................................................................51501’’. 
(c) REPORT ON NATIONAL SPACEPORTS POLICY.— 
(1) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 
(A) A robust network of space transportation infra-
structure, including spaceports, is vital to the growth of 
the domestic space industry and America’s competitiveness 
and access to space. 
(B) 
Non-Federal 
spaceports 
have 
significantly 
increased the space transportation infrastructure of the 
United States through significant investments by State 
and local governments, which have encouraged greater pri-
vate investment. 
(C) These spaceports have led to the development of 
a growing number of orbital and suborbital launch and 
reentry sites that are available to the national security, 
civil, and commercial space customers at minimal cost to 
the Federal Government. 
(D) The Federal Government, led by the Secretary 
of Transportation, should seek to promote the growth, resil-
ience, and capabilities of this space transportation infra-
structure through policies and through partnerships with 
State and local governments. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit 
to Congress a report that— 
(A) evaluates the Federal Government’s national secu-
rity and civil space transportation demands and the needs 
of the United States and international commercial markets; 
(B) proposes policies and programs designed to ensure 
a robust and resilient orbital and suborbital spaceport 
infrastructure to serve and capitalize on these space 
transportation opportunities; 
(C) reviews the development and investments made 
by international competitors in foreign spaceports, to the 
extent practicable; 
(D) makes recommendations on how the Federal 
Government can support, encourage, promote, and facilitate 
greater investments in infrastructure at spaceports; and 
(E) considers and makes recommendations about how 
spaceports can fully support and enable the national space 
policy. 
(3) UPDATES TO THE REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act and every 2 years until 
December 2024, the Secretary shall— 
(A) update the previous report prepared under this 
subsection; and 
(B) submit the updated report to Congress. 
(4) CONSULTATIONS REQUIRED.—In preparing the reports 
required by this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with 
individuals including— 
(A) the Secretary of Defense; 
(B) the Secretary of Commerce;
H. R. 302—212 
(C) the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration; and 
(D) interested persons at spaceports, State and local 
governments, and industry. 
(d) REPORT
ON
SPACE
TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE 
MATCHING GRANTS.— 
(1) GAO STUDY
AND
REPORT.—The Comptroller General 
of the United States shall conduct a study regarding spaceport 
activities carried out pursuant to chapters 509 and 511 of 
title 51, United States Code, including— 
(A) an assessment of potential mechanisms to provide 
Federal support to spaceports, including the airport 
improvement program established under subchapter I of 
chapter 471 of title 49, United States Code, and the pro-
gram established under chapter 511 of title 51, United 
States Code; 
(B) recommendations for potential funding options; and 
(C) any necessary changes to improve the spaceport 
application review process. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study described 
in paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall consult with 
sources from each component of the commercial space transpor-
tation sector, including interested persons in industry and 
government officials at the Federal, State, and local levels. 
(3) USER-FUNDED
SPACEPORTS.—In reviewing funding 
options, the Comptroller General shall distinguish between 
spaceports that are funded by users and those that are not. 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to 
Congress a report containing results of the study conducted 
under paragraph (1). 
(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘spaceport’’ means 
a launch or reentry site that is operated by an entity licensed 
by the Secretary of Transportation. 
SEC. 581. SPECIAL RULE FOR CERTAIN AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS (SPACE 
SUPPORT VEHICLES). 
(a) SPACE SUPPORT VEHICLE DEFINITIONS.—Section 50902 of 
title 51, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (21) through (25) as para-
graphs (23) through (27), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (20) the following: 
‘‘(21) ‘space support vehicle flight’ means a flight in the 
air that— 
‘‘(A) is not a launch or reentry; but 
‘‘(B) is conducted by a space support vehicle. 
‘‘(22) ‘space support vehicle’ means a vehicle that is— 
‘‘(A) a launch vehicle; 
‘‘(B) a reentry vehicle; or 
‘‘(C) a component of a launch or reentry vehicle.’’. 
(b) SPECIAL RULE FOR CERTAIN AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 447, of title 49, United States 
Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following:
H. R. 302—213 
‘‘§ 44737. Special rule for certain aircraft operations. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The operator of an aircraft with a special 
airworthiness certification in the experimental category may— 
‘‘(1) operate the aircraft for the purpose of conducting a 
space support vehicle flight (as that term is defined in chapter 
50902 of title 51); and 
‘‘(2) conduct such flight under such certificate carrying 
persons or property for compensation or hire— 
‘‘(A) notwithstanding any rule or term of a certificate 
issued by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration that would prohibit flight for compensation 
or hire; or 
‘‘(B) without obtaining a certificate issued by the 
Administrator to conduct air carrier or commercial oper-
ations. 
‘‘(b) LIMITED APPLICABILITY.—Subsection (a) shall apply only 
to a space support vehicle flight that satisfies each of the following: 
‘‘(1) (1) The aircraft conducting the space support vehicle 
flight— 
‘‘(A) takes flight and lands at a single site that is 
operated by an entity licensed for operation under chapter 
509 of title 51; 
‘‘(B) is owned or operated by a launch or reentry vehicle 
operator licensed under chapter 509 of title 51, or on behalf 
of a launch or reentry vehicle operator licensed under 
chapter 509 of title 51; 
‘‘(C) is a launch vehicle, a reentry vehicle, or a compo-
nent of a launch or reentry vehicle licensed for operations 
pursuant to chapter 509 of title 51; and 
‘‘(D) is used only to simulate space flight conditions 
in support of— 
‘‘(i) training for potential space flight participants, 
government astronauts, or crew (as those terms are 
defined in chapter 509 of title 51); 
‘‘(ii) the testing of hardware to be used in space 
flight; or 
‘‘(iii) research and development tasks, which 
require the unique capabilities of the aircraft con-
ducting the flight. 
‘‘(c) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.— 
‘‘(1) SPACE SUPPORT VEHICLES.—Section 44711(a)(1) shall 
not apply to a person conducting a space support vehicle flight 
under this section only to the extent that a term of the experi-
mental certificate under which the person is operating the 
space support vehicle prohibits the carriage of persons or prop-
erty for compensation or hire. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY OF ADMINISTRATOR.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to limit the authority of the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration to exempt a person 
from a regulatory prohibition on the carriage of persons or 
property for compensation or hire subject to terms and condi-
tions other than those described in this section’’. 
(2) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents of 447 
of title 49, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘Sec. 44737. Special rule for certain aircraft operations.’’.
H. R. 302—214 
(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION RELATING TO ROLE OF NASA.— 
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as limiting the 
ability of National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) to place conditions on or otherwise qualify the oper-
ations of NASA contractors providing NASA services. 
SEC. 582. PORTABILITY OF REPAIRMAN CERTIFICATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall assign to the Avia-
tion Rulemaking Advisory Committee the task of making rec-
ommendations with respect to the regulatory and policy changes, 
as appropriate, to allow a repairman certificate issued under section 
65.101 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to be portable 
from one employing certificate holder to another. 
(b) ACTION BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 1 
year after receiving recommendations under subsection (a), the 
Administrator may take such action as the Administrator considers 
appropriate with respect to those recommendations. 
SEC. 583. UNDECLARED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PUBLIC AWARENESS 
CAMPAIGN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation shall carry 
out a public awareness campaign to reduce the amount of 
undeclared hazardous materials traveling through air commerce. 
(b) CAMPAIGN REQUIREMENTS.—The public awareness campaign 
required under subsection (a) shall do the following: 
(1) Focus on targeting segments of the hazardous materials 
industry with high rates of undeclared shipments through air 
commerce and educate air carriers, shippers, manufacturers, 
and other relevant stakeholders of such segments on properly 
packaging and classifying such shipments. 
(2) Educate the public on proper ways to declare and ship 
hazardous materials, examples of everyday items that are 
considered hazardous materials, and penalties associated with 
intentional shipments of undeclared hazardous materials. 
(c) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
establish an interagency working group to promote collabora-
tion and engagement between the Department of Transpor-
tation and other relevant agencies, and develop recommenda-
tions and guidance on how best to conduct the public awareness 
campaign required under subsection (a). 
(2) DUTIES.—The interagency working group shall consult 
with relevant stakeholders, including cargo air carriers, pas-
senger air carriers, and labor organizations representing pilots 
for cargo and passenger air carriers operating under part 121 
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(d) UPDATE.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall provide to the 
appropriate committees of Congress an update on the status of 
the public awareness campaign required under subsection (a). 
SEC. 584. LIABILITY PROTECTION FOR VOLUNTEER PILOTS WHO FLY 
FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT. 
Section 4 of the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 (42 U.S.C. 
14503) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (f) as sub-
sections (c) through (g), respectively;