Space Resources Institute Act
Bill: H.R.4719 | Sponsor: Rep. Perlmutter, Ed (D-CO)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Space Resources Institute Act
This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to submit a report on the merits of, and options for, establishing an institute related to space resources in order to advance NASA's objectives for maintaining U.S. preeminence in space.

To direct the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
  Administration to submit to Congress a report on the merits of, and 
options for, establishing an institute relating to space resources, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Space Resources Institute Act''.

SEC. 2. REPORT ON MERITS AND OPTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING AN INSTITUTE 
              RELATING TO SPACE RESOURCES.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on the merits of, and 
options for, establishing an institute relating to space resources to 
advance the objectives of NASA in maintaining United States preeminence 
in space. Such objectives shall include the following:
            (1) Identifying, developing, and distributing space 
        resources, including by encouraging the development of 
        foundational science and technology.
            (2) Reducing the technological risks associated with 
        identifying, developing, and distributing space resources.
            (3) Developing options for using space resources to--
                    (A) support current and future space architectures, 
                programs, and missions; and
                    (B) enable such architectures, programs, and 
                missions that would not otherwise be possible.
    (b) Additional Matters.--The report required under subsection (a) 
shall also include the following assessments of the Administrator:
            (1) Whether a virtual or physical institute relating to 
        space resources is most cost effective and appropriate.
            (2) Whether partnering with institutions of higher 
        education and the aerospace industry, and the extractive 
        industry as appropriate, would be effective in increasing 
        information available to the institute with respect to 
        advancing the objectives described in subsection (a).
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of NASA.
            (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
                of the House of Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate.
            (3) Extractive industry.--The term ``extractive industry'' 
        means companies and individuals involved in the processes of 
        extracting, including mining, quarrying, drilling, and 
        dredging, raw, natural materials or energy sources.
            (4) Institution 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)).
            (5) NASA.--The term ``NASA'' means the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration.
            (6) Space resource.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``space resource'' means 
                an abiotic resource in situ in outer space.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``space resource'' 
                includes a raw, natural material or energy source.
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