[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5602 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5602
To streamline the application of regulations relating to commercial
space launch and reentry requirements and licensing of private remote
sensing space systems, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 26, 2025
Mr. Pfluger (for himself and Mr. Whitesides) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To streamline the application of regulations relating to commercial
space launch and reentry requirements and licensing of private remote
sensing space systems, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Licensing Aerospace Units to New
Commercial Heights Act'' or the ``LAUNCH Act''.
SEC. 2. STREAMLINING REGULATIONS RELATING TO COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH
AND REENTRY REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Evaluation of Implementation of Part 450.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall evaluate
the implementation of part 450 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations (in this section referred to as ``part 450'') and
the impacts of part 450 on the commercial spaceflight industry.
(2) Elements.--The evaluation required by paragraph (1)
shall include an assessment of--
(A) whether increased uncertainty in the commercial
spaceflight industry has resulted from the
implementation of part 450;
(B) whether part 450 has resulted in operational
delays to launch; and
(C) whether timelines for reviews have changed,
including an assessment of the impact of the
incremental review process on those timelines and the
root cause for multiple reviews, if applicable.
(3) Report required.--Not later than 90 days after
completing the review required by paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report
that includes--
(A) the findings of the review;
(B) recommendations for reducing delays and
inefficiencies resulting from part 450 that do not rely
solely on additional personnel or funding; and
(C) an estimate for a timeline and funding for
implementing the recommendations described in
subparagraph (B).
(b) Rulemaking Committee.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall continue to support an
Aerospace Rulemaking Committee for the commercial space
transportation industry, comprised of established and emerging
United States commercial space launch and reentry services
providers (including providers that hold, and providers that
have applied for but not yet received, licenses issued under
chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code)--
(A) to facilitate industry participation in
developing recommendations for amendments to part 450
to address the challenges identified in conducting the
review required by subsection (a) or under paragraph
(2) of section 50905(d) of title 51, United States Code
(as added by subsection (d)(3)); and
(B) to provide a long-term forum for the United
States commercial spaceflight industry to share
perspectives relating to regulations affecting the
industry.
(2) Prevention of duplicative efforts.--The Secretary shall
ensure that an Aerospace Rulemaking Committee established under
this subsection does not provide services or make efforts that
are duplicative of the services provided and efforts made by
the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee.
(c) Encouragement of Innovation.--The Secretary shall, on an
ongoing basis, determine whether any requirements for a license issued
under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, can be modified or
eliminated to encourage innovative new technologies and operations.
(d) Modifications to Requirements and Procedures for License
Applications.--
(1) Consideration of safety rationales of license
applicants.--Section 50905(a)(2) of title 51, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``Secretary may'' inserting the
following: ``Secretary--
``(A) may'';
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting
``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) shall accept a reasonable safety rationale
proposed by an applicant for a license under this
chapter, including new approaches, consistent with
paragraph (1).''.
(2) Facilitation of license applications and assistance to
applicants.--Section 50905(a) of title 51, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(3) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
assign a licensing team lead to each applicant for a license
under this chapter to assist the applicant in streamlining the
process for reviewing and approving the license application.''.
(3) Streamlining of review processes.--Section 50905(d) of
title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking the end
period and inserting the following: ``, including by--
``(1) adjudicating determinations with respect to such
applications and revisions to such determinations in a timely
manner as part of the incremental review process under section
450.33 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation); and
``(2) eliminating and streamlining duplicative review
processes with other agencies, particularly relating to the use
of Federal ranges or requirements to use the assets of Federal
ranges.''.
SEC. 3. DIGITAL LICENSING, PERMITTING, AND APPROVAL SYSTEM.
(a) In General.--Section 50905 of title 51, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Digital Licensing, Permitting, and Approval System.--
``(1) Establishment.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to paragraph (4), not
later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of
this subsection, the Secretary shall develop and
maintain a digital licensing, permitting, and approval
system--
``(i) to accept, track, and provide
relevant status information regarding each
license or permit application under this
chapter, beginning with receipt of the initial
application through final approval or denial of
the application; and
``(ii) to provide notifications to an
applicant with respect to the status of such an
application.
``(B) Elements.--The system required by
subparagraph (A) shall include, at a minimum,
information on--
``(i) the date on which an application was
received by the Secretary;
``(ii) each date on which the application
was referred to any other agency of the Federal
Government for review, as applicable;
``(iii) each date on which additional
information was requested from the applicant,
as applicable;
``(iv) the date on which the Secretary
notified the applicant of a final approval or
denial of the application; and
``(v) the overall rate of success of such
system in meeting the timelines set forth in
this section.
``(2) Public availability.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) make the information maintained by the system
required by paragraph (1) available on a publicly
accessible website of the Department of Transportation;
and
``(B) ensure that such information is updated on
such website not less frequently than quarterly.
``(3) Notification.--With respect to an application for a
license or permit under this chapter, the Secretary shall
provide through the digital licensing, permitting, and approval
system developed under this subsection electronic notification
to an applicant--
``(A) immediately on--
``(i) receipt of a license or permit
application;
``(ii) a determination under subsection (f)
that an application received by the Secretary
is complete;
``(iii) initiation of application
processing;
``(iv) transmission of the application, in
whole or part, for interagency review, as
applicable, and such notification shall include
an identification of the 1 or more agencies
with which application information is shared;
and
``(v) approval or denial of the
application; and
``(B) with respect to--
``(i) any question proposed by the
Secretary to the applicant;
``(ii) responses provided to the Secretary
by any agency involved in interagency review,
as applicable; and
``(iii) any other status update the
Secretary considers necessary.
``(4) Existing systems.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall utilize a commercially available system that
can be used off-the-shelf.
``(f) Complete Application.--An application submitted under this
section shall be considered complete if, at the time of electronic
submission, the applicant has provided in standard digital format all
information required under subsection (b).''.
(b) Funding.--Of the amounts made available for the Federal
Aviation Administration for Commercial Space Transportation Safety
Research and Development for fiscal year 2025, not more than $5,000,000
may be made available to develop the digital licensing, permitting, and
approval system described in section 50905(e) of title 51, United
States Code.
SEC. 4. ANNUAL BRIEFING ON GOVERNMENT PROCESSING OF COMMERCIAL SPACE
LAUNCH AND REENTRY LICENSES.
(a) Requirement.--Not later than March 31 each calendar year, the
Secretary shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the
licensing and permitting process for space activities required by
section 50905 of title 51, United States Code.
(b) Elements.--The briefing required by subsection (a) shall
include, with respect to the preceding calendar year, the following:
(1) The average number of days that elapsed between the
date on which an application is submitted and the date on which
an applicant receives final approval or denial of the
application.
(2) The frequency and average duration of tolling against
submitted applications.
(3) The number of applications reviewed that exceeded the
statutorily provided review timelines.
(4) A description of efforts made by the Secretary to
streamline, under section 50905(d) of title 51, United States
Code, the processes required for review of applications.
(5) A summary of the information generated by the digital
licensing, permitting, and approval system established under
section 50905(e) of title 51, United States Code, including any
additional information the Secretary considers relevant with
respect to the function or processes of such system.
(6) An assessment as to whether the application review
process operates in a manner that encourages the global
competitiveness of the commercial space industry of the United
States.
(c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 5. DIRECT HIRE FOR OFFICE OF COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall use direct
hire authorities (as such authorities existed on the day before the
date of the enactment of this Act) to hire individuals on a
noncompetitive basis for positions related to space launch and reentry
licensing and permit activities.
(b) Annual Report.--Not less frequently than annually, the
Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an annual report
on the use of direct hiring authorities to fill such positions within
the Commercial Space Transportation Administration related to
commercial space launch and reentry licensing and permit activities.
SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION
ADMINISTRATION.
(a) In General.--Chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 50902 the following:
``Sec. 50902A. Commercial Space Transportation Administration
``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Department of
Transportation a Commercial Space Transportation Administration.
``(b) Leadership.--The Commercial Space Transportation
Administration shall be headed by an Administrator, who shall report
directly to the Secretary of Transportation.
``(c) Duties.--The Administrator of the Commercial Space
Transportation Administration shall exercise the authorities of the
Secretary of Transportation with respect to commercial space launch and
reentry activities, including the authorities provided under this
chapter.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 509 of such title is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 50902 the following:
``50902A. Commercial Space Transportation Administration.''.
SEC. 7. FLIGHT SAFETY ANALYSIS WORKFORCE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) flight safety analysis is critical to maintaining a
high level of public safety for commercial space launches from,
and reentries to, Federal ranges;
(2) significant expertise in flight safety analysis exists
within the Department of Defense, the Department of
Transportation, and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration; and
(3) the increasing pace of commercial launch and reentries
requires greater cooperation among the Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary, and the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration to support commercial
launch and reentry activities at Federal ranges.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Armed Services of the
Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the
Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report
that identifies roles, responsibilities, expertise, and knowledge that
exists within the executive branch of the Federal Government relating
to analysis of flight safety for space launch and reentry activities.
(c) Memorandum of Understanding.--Upon completion of the report
required by subsection (b), the Secretary may enter into a memorandum
of understanding with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to allow Federal
range personnel to support flight safety analysis required for the
licensing of commercial space launch and reentry activities.
SEC. 8. STREAMLINING LICENSING OF PRIVATE REMOTE SENSING SPACE SYSTEMS.
(a) Clarification of Remote Sensing Regulatory Authority Over
Certain Imaging Systems.--Section 60121(a)(2) of title 51, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Instruments determined by the Secretary in writing to be used
primarily for mission assurance or other technical purposes shall not
be considered to be conducting remote sensing. Instruments used
primarily for mission assurance or other technical purposes are
instruments used to support the health of the launch vehicle or the
operator's spacecraft or the safety of the operator's space operations,
including instruments used to support on-board self-monitoring for
technical assurance, flight reliability, spaceflight safety,
navigation, attitude control, separation events, payload deployments,
or instruments collecting self-images.''.
(b) Facilitation of License Applications and Assistance to
Applicants.--
(1) In general.--Section 60121 of title 51, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subsection (c) the
following:
``(d) Assignment of Dedicated Licensing Officer.--The Secretary
shall assign a licensing officer to oversee the application of the
applicant for a license under subsection (a). The licensing officer
shall assist the applicant by facilitating the application process,
minimizing license conditions, and expediting the review and approval
of the application, to the extent authorized by law.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 60122(b)(3) of title 51,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``section 60121(e)''
and inserting ``section 60121(f)''.
(c) Transparency and Expeditious Review of Licenses.--In carrying
out the authorities under subchapter III of chapter 601 of title 51,
United States Code, the Secretary shall--
(1) provide transparency to and engagement with applicants
throughout the licensing process, including by stating with
specificity to the applicant or licensee what basis caused the
tiering determination of the license;
(2) minimize the timelines for review of commercial remote
sensing licensing applications; and
(3) not less frequently than annually, reevaluate the
criteria for the tiering of satellite systems, with a goal of
expeditiously recategorizing Tier 3 systems to a lower tier
without temporary license conditions.
SEC. 9. GAO REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of
the House of Representatives a report on the policies, regulations, and
practices of the Department of Commerce (referred to in this section as
the ``Department'') with respect to the private remote sensing space
industry.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) An assessment of the extent to which such licensing
policies, regulations, and practices of the Department promote
or inhibit a robust domestic private remote sensing industry,
including any restrictions that impede innovative remote
sensing capabilities.
(2) Recommendations on changes to policies, regulations,
and practices for consideration by the Secretary of Commerce to
promote United States industry leadership in private remote
sensing capabilities, including recommendations for--
(A) determining whether the costs to industry
outweigh the benefits of conducting on-site ground
station visits, and possible alternatives to ensuring
compliance;
(B) assessing the information in a license
application that should be treated as a material fact
and the justification for such treatment;
(C) incorporating industry feedback into Department
policies, regulations, and practices; and
(D) increasing Department transparency by--
(i) ensuring the wide dissemination of
Department guidance;
(ii) providing clear application
instructions; and
(iii) establishing written precedent of
Department actions.
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