H.R. 6638House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

To require a report on merits and options for establishing an institute relating to space resources, and for other purposes.

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Updated April 2, 2026 at 8:21 PM UTC

H.R. 6638 directs NASA and the Department of Commerce to produce a report within 180 days that examines the need for and possible structures of a new institute dedicated to space resources. The report will explore how such an institute could help the U.S. develop, use, and manage resources found in outer space, reduce related risks, and support future space missions, while also considering cost‑effective formats and partnerships with academia and industry.

Key Provisions

Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, NASA’s Administrator and the Secretary of Commerce must jointly deliver a report to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
The report must evaluate the benefits and options for creating an institute focused on space resources, aiming to keep the United States a leader in space.
It must address how the institute could identify, develop, and distribute space resources, lower technical and business risks, promote responsible use, and support or enable space missions that might otherwise be impossible, including supplementing Earth’s resource supply.
The report must also assess whether a virtual or physical institute would be more cost‑effective, and whether partnerships with universities, the aerospace sector, and the extractive (mining) industry would improve the institute’s effectiveness.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee

December 11, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

December 11, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee

December 11, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued December 11, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 6638

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 11, 2025

Mrs. Foushee (for herself and Mr. Webster of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

A BILL

To require a report on merits and options for establishing an institute relating to space resources, and for other purposes.

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 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Secretary of Commerce shall jointly submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 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 of Commerce 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, industrial capability, and technology.

(2)

Reducing the technological and business 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 carry out the following.

(A)

Support current and future space architectures, programs, business, and missions.

(B)

Enable such architectures, programs, business, and missions that would not otherwise be possible.

(C)

Supplement the supply of such resources available on Earth.

(b)

Additional matters

The report required under subsection (a) shall also include the following assessments of the Administrator of NASA and the Secretary of Commerce:

(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 such subsection.

(c)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

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.

(2)

Institute 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)).

(3)

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.