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United States · Law · HR

H.R. 1702 (105th)

Commercial Space Act of 1998

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

22 May 1997

Last action

28 October 1998 · Became law

Status

Became Public Law No: 105-303.

Sponsors

Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5], Rep. Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA-48], Rep. Brown, George E., Jr. [D-CA-42], Rep. Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [D-AL-5], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Rep. Nethercutt, George R., Jr. [R-WA-5], Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J. [R-MI-3], Rep. Weldon, Dave [R-FL-15], Rep. Cannon, Chris [R-UT-3], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Salmon, Matt [R-AZ-5], Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [R-TX-4], Rep. Foley, Mark [R-FL-16]

Subjects

Taxation, Budget

Source updated

7 April 2025

Taxation · Budget

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Promotion of Commercial Space Opportunities Title II: Remote Sensing Title III: Federal Acquisition of Space Transportation Services Commercial Space Act of 1997 - Title I: Promotion of Commercial Space Opportunities - Requires the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to deliver to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate: (1) a specified study that identifies and examines the opportunities for commercial providers to play a role in International Space Station activities, including operation, use, servicing, and augmentation; and (2) an independently-conducted market study that examines and evaluates potential industry interest in providing commercial goods and services for the operation, servicing, and augmentation of the International Space Station, and in the commercial use of the International Space Station (including updates to the cost savings and revenue estimates made in the preceding study, based on the external market assessment). Requires the Administrator to deliver to the Congress, no later than the submission of the President's annual budget request for FY 1999, a report detailing how many proposals (whether solicited or not) NASA received during 1997 regarding commercial operation, servicing, utilization, or augmentation of the International Space Station, and specifying how many agreements NASA has entered into in response to these proposals. (Sec. 102) Amends Federal law to include reentry vehicles and reentry operations within the scope of commercial space launch activities. Mandates an annual report. (Sec. 103) Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1993 to: (1) discontinue funding of the commercial launch voucher demonstration program through the Office of Commercial Programs within NASA (continues funding such program directly through NASA); and (2) extend the program indefinitely. (Sec. 104) Encourages the President to promote U.S. Global Positioning System standards. (Sec. 105) Directs NASA to purchase, to the maximum extent possible, space science data from a commercial provider. Title II: Remote Sensing - Makes amendments to the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 respecting the commercialization of land remote sensing space systems. Modifies license application and issuance requirements to allow U.S. Government agencies to enter into agreements for utilization of a private land remote sensing space system if such remote sensing space system will be licensed by the Secretary of Commerce before commencing its commercial operation. Prohibits duplication of U.S. commercial space science data collection or distribution activities by the Federal Government unless such activities would result in significant cost savings to the Federal Government. Repeals the technology demonstration program. (Sec. 202) Directs the Administrator to: (1) acquire space-based and airborne Earth remote sensing data provided by a commercial provider for purposes of meeting Government goals for Mission to Planet Earth; and (2) conduct a study to determine the extent to which baseline scientific requirements of Mission to Planet Earth can be met by commercial providers, and how NASA will meet such requirements which cannot be met by commercial providers. Requires that the study be carried out as part of the Commercial Remote Sensing Program at the Stennis Space Center. Title III: Federal Acquisition of Space Transportation Services - Requires the Federal Government to procure space transportation services from U.S. commercial providers whenever such services are required in the course of its activities, subject to exception. (Sec. 303) Makes conforming amendments to the Launch Services Purchase Act of 1990. Maintains the prohibition for the launching of commercial payloads as primary payloads on the space shuttle.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 22 May 1997

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Science.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 22 May 1997

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1018-1019)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 22 May 1997

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 22 May 1997

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 23 May 1997

    Committee

    Hearings Held by the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Prior to Introduction and Referral (May 21, 22, 97).

    Source: Committee

  6. 23 May 1997

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.

    Source: Committee

  7. 4 June 1997

    Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Source: Committee

  8. 12 June 1997

    Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  9. 12 June 1997

    Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  10. 18 June 1997

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  11. 18 June 1997

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  12. 24 October 1997

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 200.

    Source: Calendars

  13. 24 October 1997

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 105-347.

    Source: Committee

  14. 24 October 1997

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 105-347.

    Source: Committee

  15. 4 November 1997

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  16. 4 November 1997

    Passed

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: Floor

  17. 4 November 1997

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: Floor

  18. 4 November 1997

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9900-9907, H9983)

    Source: Floor

  19. 4 November 1997

    Floor

    At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Cramer objected to the Yea - Nay vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

    Source: Floor

  20. 4 November 1997

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

    Source: Floor

  21. 4 November 1997

    Floor

    Mr. Rohrabacher moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    Source: Floor

  22. 5 November 1997

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  23. 5 March 1998

    Committee

    Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space. Hearings held.

    Source: Committee

  24. 12 March 1998

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Source: Committee

  25. 2 June 1998

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 393.

    Source: Calendars

  26. 2 June 1998

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator McCain with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 105-198.

    Source: Committee

  27. 2 June 1998

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator McCain with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 105-198.

    Source: Committee

  28. 30 July 1998

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S9510-9516)

    Source: Floor

  29. 30 July 1998

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  30. 31 July 1998

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  31. 5 October 1998

    Passed

    House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment pursuant to H. Res. 572. (consideration: CR H9494-9502)

    Source: Floor

  32. 5 October 1998

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- House actions: House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment pursuant to H. Res. 572.(consideration: CR H9494-9502)

    Source: NotUsed

  33. 6 October 1998

    Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment.

    Source: Floor

  34. 8 October 1998

    Passed

    Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S12064-12069)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  35. 8 October 1998

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S12064-12069)

    Source: NotUsed

  36. 9 October 1998

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  37. 20 October 1998

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  38. 20 October 1998

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  39. 28 October 1998

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  40. 28 October 1998

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

  41. 28 October 1998

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 105-303.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

24 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 28 October 1998

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 28 October 1998

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (text)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 5 October 1998

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (PDF)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 5 October 1998

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  • House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment

    summary · EN · 5 October 1998

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  • Engrossed Amendment Senate (text)

    Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 30 July 1998

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  • Engrossed Amendment Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 30 July 1998

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 30 July 1998

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  • Reported to Senate (text)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 2 June 1998

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  • Reported to Senate (PDF)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 2 June 1998

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  • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 2 June 1998

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  • Referred in Senate (text)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 5 November 1997

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  • Referred in Senate (PDF)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 5 November 1997

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 4 November 1997

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 4 November 1997

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  • Passed House amended

    summary · EN · 4 November 1997

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  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 24 October 1997

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  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 24 October 1997

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  • Reported to House with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 24 October 1997

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 22 May 1997

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 22 May 1997

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 22 May 1997

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