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S. 503Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Space National Guard Establishment Act

Sponsored by Dianne FeinsteinSen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Introduced February 16, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 3:42 AM UTC

The Space National Guard Establishment Act creates a new Space National Guard as part of each state’s organized militia and as the reserve component of the U.S. Space Force. It defines the Guard’s composition, duties, and relationship to existing military structures, and requires the Air Force and National Guard Bureau to set it up within 18 months. The bill also mandates regular briefings to Congress and amends Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code to recognize the new force.

Key Provisions

  • Establishes a Space National Guard in each state, territory, Puerto Rico, and D.C., making it part of the organized militia and the reserve component of the Space Force.
  • Specifies that the Guard includes both active and inactive members and that all its members are also members of the Space National Guard of the United States.
  • States that the Act does not require relocation of any existing Space or Air National Guard facilities.
  • Requires the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to implement the Guard within 18 months and to provide annual briefings to defense committees for five years on its status, missions, personnel, and funding.
  • Amends U.S. Code (Title 10 and Title 32) to define “Space National Guard” and “Space National Guard of the United States,” and adds new sections detailing its composition, role as a component of the Space Force, and status when not on federal active duty.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

February 16, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 16, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

February 16, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 16, 2023

II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 503

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 16, 2023

Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Braun, and Ms. Sinema) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To establish the Space National Guard.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Space National Guard Establishment Act.

2.

Establishment of Space National Guard

(a)

Establishment

(1)

In general

There is established a Space National Guard that is part of the organized militia of the several States and Territories, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia—

(A)

in which the Space Force operates; and

(B)

active and inactive.

(2)

Reserve component

There is established a Space National Guard of the United States that is the reserve component of the United States Space Force all of whose members are members of the Space National Guard.

(b)

Composition

The Space National Guard shall be composed of the Space National Guard forces of the several States and Territories, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia—

(1)

in which the Space Force operates; and

(2)

active and inactive.

3.

No effect on military installations

Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to authorize or require the relocation of any facility, infrastructure, or military installation of the Space National Guard or Air National Guard.

4.

Implementation of Space National Guard

(a)

Requirement

Except as specifically provided by this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall implement this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b)

Briefing required

(1)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually for the five subsequent years, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of the Space Force, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall jointly provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the status of the implementation of the Space National Guard pursuant to this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

(2)

Elements

The briefing required by paragraph (1) shall address—

(A)

the current missions, operations and activities, personnel requirements and status, and budget and funding requirements and status of the Space National Guard; and

(B)

such other matters with respect to the implementation and operation of the Space National Guard as the Secretary and the Chiefs jointly determine appropriate to keep Congress fully and currently informed on the status of the implementation of the Space National Guard.

5.

Conforming amendments and clarification of authorities

(a)

Definitions

(1)

Title 10, United States Code

Title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(A)

in section 101—

(i)

in subsection (c)—

(I)

by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs (8) and (9), respectively; and

(II)

by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraphs:

(6)

The term Space National Guard means that part of the organized militia of the several States and territories, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, active and inactive, that—

(A)

is a space force;

(B)

is trained, and has its officers appointed under the sixteenth clause of section 8, article I of the Constitution;

(C)

is organized, armed, and equipped wholly or partly at Federal expense; and

(D)

is federally recognized.

(7)

The term Space National Guard of the United States means the reserve component of the Space Force all of whose members are members of the Space National Guard.

; and

(B)

in section 10101—

(i)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting the following before the colon; and

(ii)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(8)

The Space National Guard of the United States.

.

(2)

Title 32, United States Code

Section 101 of title 32, United States Code is amended—

(A)

by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (19) as paragraphs (10) through (21), respectively; and

(B)

by inserting after paragraph (7) the following new paragraphs:

(8)

The term Space National Guard means that part of the organized militia of the several States and territories, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, in which the Space Force operates, active and inactive, that—

(A)

is a space force;

(B)

is trained, and has its officers appointed under the sixteenth clause of section 8, article I of the Constitution;

(C)

is organized, armed, and equipped wholly or partly at Federal expense; and

(D)

is federally recognized.

(9)

The term Space National Guard of the United States means the reserve component of the Space Force all of whose members are members of the Space National Guard.

.

(b)

Reserve components

Chapter 1003 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by adding at the end the following new sections:

10115.

Space National Guard of the United States: composition

The Space National Guard of the United States is the reserve component of the Space Force that consists of—

(1)

federally recognized units and organizations of the Space National Guard; and

(2)

members of the Space National Guard who are also Reserves of the Space Force.

10116.

Space National Guard: when a component of the Space Force

The Space National Guard while in the service of the United States is a component of the Space Force.

10117.

Space National Guard of the United States: status when not in Federal service

When not on active duty, members of the Space National Guard of the United States shall be administered, armed, equipped, and trained in their status as members of the Space National Guard.

; and

(2)

in the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter, by adding at the end the following new items:

10115. Space National Guard of the United States: composition.

10116. Space National Guard: when a component of the Space Force.

10117. Space National Guard of the United States: status when not in Federal service.

.