SPACEPORT Act

Bill: 118-s-1982
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2023-06-14
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2023-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-06-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Spaceport Project Opportunities for Resilient Transportation Act or the SPACEPORT Act</strong></p><p>This bill modifies requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching Grants Program. The program supported the development of spaceports (e.g., testing and launching stations for spacecraft) and other space-related infrastructure.</p><p>Under current law, a grant may cover a maximum of 50% of the total cost of a project; at least 10% must be paid for by the private sector. The bill removes the requirement of private sector contributions and increases the maximum amount that the grant may cover to 90% of a project's total cost. The bill also allows the FAA to waive the maximum cost limitations if it deems it to be in the national interest.</p><p>Additionally, under the bill, in selecting grant recipients, the FAA may consider a project's contribution towards meeting the civil, national security, and commercial space transportation needs of the United States (rather than only the needs of the U.S. government).</p><p>The bill also limits funding for the grant program to congressional appropriations; other funding sources, such as user fees, may not be used.</p><!--tinycomments|2.1|data:application/json;base64,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-->

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1982 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 14, 2023 Mr. Hickenlooper (for himself, Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Luján , and Mr. Wicker ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To amend chapter 511 of title 51, United States Code, to modify the authority for space transportation infrastructure modernization grants, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Spaceport Project Opportunities for Resilient Transportation Act or the SPACEPORT Act . 2. Space launch infrastructure (a) Modification of grant authority (1) In general Subsection (b) of section 51102 of title 51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) Limitations (1) In general The Secretary may make a project grant under this chapter only if the grant will not be for more than 90 percent of the total cost of the project. (2) Waiver The Secretary may waive the application of paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that such a waiver is in the national interest. . (b) Eligibility criteria Section 51103 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking the United States Government’s space transportation needs and inserting the civil, national security, and commercial space transportation needs of the United States ; (ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking contributions and inserting support ; and (iii) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting , as needed. ; (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) The Secretary of Transportation shall develop specific criteria for evaluating and selecting proposed projects based on the considerations under paragraph (1). ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (3) The Secretary of Transportation shall consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other appropriate agencies of the Government with respect to subparagraphs (A) and (F) of paragraph (1), as appropriate. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (e) Funding of program Activities carried out under this section shall be funded only through appropriations approved by Congress and not through user fees or other funds. . (c) Report (1) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other appropriate agencies of the Government, shall submit to Congress a report that— (A) evaluates the demand for space transportation services, including the civil, national security, and commercial space transportation needs of the United States and international commercial markets; (B) provides legislative, regulatory, and policy recommendations to ensure robust and resilient space transportation capabilities in support of the national space policy; (C) examines a range of long-term funding options and related considerations for space transportation infrastructure projects; and (D) provides an assessment of international space transportation capabilities and investments, including recommendations for maintaining United States competitiveness and developing an international space transportation network. (2) Updates Not later than 6 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary of Transportation shall— (A) update the report submitted under paragraph (1); and (B) submit such updated report to Congress. (d) Authorization of appropriations Section 51105 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking Not more than and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for each fiscal year not more than $10,000,000 to make grants under this chapter. . (e) Technical amendments (1) Chapter heading The heading of chapter 511 of title 51, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 511 Space transportation infrastructure modernization grants . (2) Table of chapters The table of chapters at the beginning of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to chapter 511 and inserting the following: 511. Space Transportation Infrastructure Modernization Grants 51101 .