I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1631
To encourage the development of the commercial space industry by
establishing State-run spaceports, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 12, 1995
Mrs. SEASTRAND (for herself, Mr. BAKER of California, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr.
CALVERT, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. HERGER, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. MOORHEAD,
Mr. POMBO, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. RIGGS, Mr. ROHRABACHER, and Mr.
SKEEN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Commit-
tee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and
Infrastructure and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To encourage the development of the commercial space indus-
try by establishing State-run spaceports, 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 ‘‘National Spaceport
Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) spaceport development is a national eco-
nomic interest that should be pursued as part of a
national transportation policy;
(2) many nations around the world, including
France, China, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Aus-
tralia, have embarked on aggressive commercial
space development programs;
(3) the United States, once the leader in the
commercial space market, is in danger of falling be-
hind in the international commercial space market;
(4) the Government must clearly demonstrate
its commitment to support commercial space activity
in America, thereby encouraging greater financial
support from private industry;
(5) the United States must develop a long-term,
comprehensive, and aggressive policy to successfully
compete in the international commercial space mar-
ket, to return the United States to its position of
primary world supplier of launch services; and
(6) spaceport development is the key component
in this endeavor because it provides the final piece—
launch facilities—to the existing parts of the United
States commercial space market.
SEC. 3. DEFINITION.
For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘spaceport’’
means a space launch or recovery facility, or a supporting
educational or research facility providing space industry
worker training or commercial application research, des-
ignated by a State in an application approved under sec-
tion 5.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL SPACEPORT OFFICE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within
the Department of Transportation a National Spaceport
Office.
(b) STAFF.—The National Spaceport Office shall
have a staff consisting of a director, 4 regional super-
visors, and not more than 5 additional support staff.
(c) DUTIES.—The National Spaceport Office shall—
(1) administer the application and assistance
program under section 5; and
(2) establish appropriate procedures for—
(A) the competitive awarding of grants
under section 5(b)(1); and
(B) the transfer of excess Federal property
to spaceports under section 5(b)(3), while en-
suring that the spaceport compensates the Fed-
eral Government for the Federal expenses of
operating facilities in connection with property
so transferred.
SEC. 5. SPACEPORT ASSISTANCE.
(a) APPLICATION.—A State or State-designated en-
tity, including a nonprofit organization, desiring assist-
ance under this section shall submit an application to the
National Spaceport Office requesting specifically the Fed-
eral assistance sought and setting forth a comprehensive
plan for spaceport development, including the educational
components of such development.
(b) ASSISTANCE.—The National Spaceport Office
shall approve meritorious applications submitted under
subsection (a) and provide to the successful applicants as-
sistance, including—
(1) grants, to the extent of available funding
under section 9;
(2) the use of excess Federal launch, recovery,
launch vehicle, and support assets, consistent with
applicable international agreements, for educational
launches; and
(3) excess Federal property, including research
facilities, by transfer.
SEC. 6. TAX-EXEMPT BOND FINANCING FOR SPACEPORTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 142 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to exempt
facility bonds) is amended by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of
paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end of para-