MACH Act

Bill: 119-hr-477
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]
Introduced: 2025-01-16
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics Act or the MACH Act</strong></p><p>This bill permits the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a research program to facilitate the testing of high-speed aircraft and related technologies, to be known as the Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics Program.</p><p>Within a specified time period, NASA must develop a strategic plan for such research. NASA must also consult with the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration on these efforts.&nbsp;</p><p>Under the program, NASA may not (1) fund the development of hypersonic and related technologies; or (2) enter into an agreement with certain foreign entities of concern, including entities owned or controlled by China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia.&nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 477 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 16, 2025 Mr. Fong (for himself and Mr. Mullin ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To advance scientific research and technology development of hypersonic vehicles, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics Act or the MACH Act . 2. Making advancements in commercial hypersonics program (a) In general In conducting hypersonics research pursuant to section 40112(d) of title 51, United States Code, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (in this section referred to as the Administrator ) may establish the Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics Program (in this section referred to as the Program ) to facilitate opportunities for testing of high-speed aircraft and other technologies that advance scientific research and technology development related to hypersonic aircraft. (b) Limitation The Program may not fund the development of technologies that are supported by the testing described in subsection (a). (c) Strategic plan Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, acting through the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, shall develop a strategic plan for activities under subsection (a) that aligns with the hypersonic research roadmap required under section 603 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017 ( Public Law 115–10 ; 51 U.S.C. 20302 note). (d) Coordination, consultation, and collaboration (1) Coordination The Administrator shall ensure coordination between the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate and other Mission Directorates, as appropriate, to identify technologies eligible for testing opportunities under the Program. (2) Consultation; collaboration The Administrator shall consult and seek to collaborate, as appropriate, with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration on activities related to the Program, including development, testing, and evaluation of high-speed aircraft and related technologies. (e) Report The Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate— (1) not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, a report that— (A) describes activities of the Program; and (B) includes the strategic plan required under subsection (c); and (2) not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, a report describing progress in carrying out the Program, including regarding the number and type of testing opportunities carried out in the previous fiscal year and planned for the upcoming fiscal year. (f) Research security Nothing in this section authorizes the Administrator to develop, implement, or execute an agreement related to technologies under this section with any entity of concern, a foreign business entity, or a foreign country of concern. (g) Definitions In this section— (1) Entity of concern The term entity of concern has the meaning given such term in section 10114 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act ( Public Law 117–167 ; 42 U.S.C. 18912 ). (2) Foreign business entity The term foreign business entity means an entity that is majority-owned or majority-controlled (as such term is defined in section 800.208 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, or a successor regulation), or minority owned greater than 25 percent by— (A) any governmental organization of a foreign country of concern; or (B) any other entity that is— (i) known to be owned or controlled by any governmental organization of a foreign country of concern; or (ii) organized under, or otherwise subject to, the laws of a foreign country of concern. (3) Foreign country of concern The term foreign country of concern has the meaning given such term in section 9901 of title XCIX of division H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 ( 15 U.S.C. 4651 ). (4) High-speed aircraft The term high-speed aircraft has the meaning given such term in section 1009 of the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 2024 ( Public Law 118–63 ; 49 U.S.C. 44701 note).