H.R. 5602

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5602 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

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.
<all>