H.R. 4152 – Reading Mode

Union Calendar No. 503

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 4152

[Report No. 118–604]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 15, 2023

Ms. Caraveo (for herself, Mr. Lamborn, Ms. Pettersen, and Mr. Neguse) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

July 23, 2024

Additional sponsor: Mr. Molinaro

July 23, 2024

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 15, 2023

A BILL

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

Short title

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

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 and Secretary shall jointly 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 and the Department 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)

Research to maximize the responsible use of space resources.

(4)

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 and the Secretary:

(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)

Department

The term Department means the Department of Commerce.

(4)

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.

(5)

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)).

(6)

NASA

The term NASA means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

(7)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce.

(8)

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.

July 23, 2024

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed