Commercial Space Launch Act Amendments of 1988

Summary

Commercial Space Launch Act Amendments of 1988 - Amends the Commercial Space Launch Act to direct the Secretary of Transportation, in facilitating and encouraging private sector acquisition of U.S. surplus launch property, to take into account the availability of comparable property under reasonable terms from domestic non-Government sources. Revises insurance requirements for persons licensed to provide launch services. Allows such persons, as an alternative to obtaining liability insurance, to demonstrate financial responsibility sufficient to compensate third-party claims arising from death, bodily injury, or loss of or damage to property resulting from licensed activities. Limits this requirement to the lesser of $500,000,000 or the maximum liability insurance available on the world market at a reasonable cost. Sets out corresponding requirements, but at a maximum of $100,000,000, with respect to claims by the United States for loss of or damage to U.S. property. Requires licensees to enter into reciprocal waivers with contractors, subcontractors, and customers involved in launch services, under which each party agrees to be responsible for its own damage and employee injuries. Requires the Secretary to enter into comparable waiver agreements with the same parties, as well as with licensees. Applies these waivers only to the extent claims exceed required insurance coverage. Directs the Secretary to review insurance liability coverage requirements within three years of this Act's enactment and to submit to the Congress a proposed adjustment to conform with altered liability expectations and the worldwide availability of insurance. Mandates the same procedure on an annual basis thereafter. Requires the Secretary to provide for the payment of successful third-party claims against parties subject to this Act to the extent such claims are not compensated by insurance, including self-insurance. Exempts licensees associated with certain satellites under construction on August 15, 1986, from requirements related to liability insurance coverage for claims by the United States. Directs the Secretary to ensure that launches of satellites having a launch date commitment are not preempted from access to launch sites except in cases of imperative national need, to be determined by the Secretary of the Air Force or the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Prohibits delegation of this determination and directs the determining party to submit to the Congress, within seven days of the determination, a full explanation, as well as a schedule for ensuring prompt launching of the preempted satellite. Directs the Secretary to study the process for scheduling launches and to report results to the Congress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should explore ways and means of developing a dialogue with appropriate foreign governments to produce guidelines for access to launch services by satellite builders and users to assure reasonable and fair international competition in commercial space activities. Directs the Administrator of NASA to report to the Congress on a program to support research into launch systems component technologies to develop higher performance and lower costs for commercial and Government launches.

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

Timeline

1. 18 April 1988

   Referred

   Referred to Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Agricultural Research, and Environment.

   Source: Committee

2. 18 April 1988

   Introduced

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

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 18 April 1988

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 18 April 1988

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

5. 21 April 1988

   Reported

   Ordered to be Reported.

   Source: Committee

6. 21 April 1988

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

7. 19 May 1988

   Calendars

   Placed on Union Calendar No: 377.

   Source: Calendars

8. 19 May 1988

   Reported

   Reported to House by House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Report No: 100-639.

   Source: Committee

9. 19 May 1988

   Reported

   Reported to House by House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Report No: 100-639.

   Source: Committee

10. 24 May 1988

    Passed

    Passed House by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

11. 24 May 1988

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

12. 24 May 1988

    Floor

    Called up by House Under Suspension of Rules.

    Source: Floor

13. 25 May 1988

    Introduced

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

    Source: IntroReferral

14. 20 September 1988

    Reported

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

    Source: Committee

15. 7 October 1988

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1127.

    Source: Calendars

16. 7 October 1988

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 100-593.

    Source: Committee

17. 7 October 1988

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 100-593.

    Source: Committee

18. 14 October 1988

    Floor

    Star Print ordered Report 100-593.

    Source: Floor

19. 14 October 1988

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

    Source: Floor

20. 18 October 1988

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

21. 21 October 1988

    Vote

    House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Yea-Nay Vote: 355 - 1 (Record Vote No: 456).

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

22. 21 October 1988

    Vote

    Resolving differences -- House actions: House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Yea-Nay Vote: 355 - 1 (Record Vote No: 456).

    Source: NotUsed

23. 2 November 1988

    Floor

    Measure Signed in Senate.

    Source: Floor

24. 3 November 1988

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

25. 3 November 1988

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

26. 15 November 1988

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 100-657.

    Source: President

27. 15 November 1988

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

28. 15 November 1988

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

4 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 16 November 1988

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 14 October 1988

  Open at official source

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• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 7 October 1988

  Open at official source

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  Vertaal document

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 18 April 1988

  Open at official source

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  Vertaal document

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Sponsors

• Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Roe, Robert A. [D-NJ-8] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Lujan, Manuel, Jr. [R-NM-1] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Walker, Robert S. [R-PA-16] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Brown, George E., Jr. [D-CA-42] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Packard, Ron [R-CA-48] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Volkmer, Harold L. [D-MO-9] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Smith, Bob [R-NH] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Mineta, Norman Y. [D-CA-15] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Slaughter, D. French, Jr. [R-VA-7] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Torricelli, Robert G. [D-NJ] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Konnyu, Ernest L. [R-CA-12] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Traficant, James A., Jr. [D-OH-17] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Buechner, Jack [R-MO-2] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Chapman, Jim [D-TX-1] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Hefley, Joel [R-CO-5] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Perkins, Carl C. [D-KY-7] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Morella, Constance A. [R-MD-8] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. McMillen, Thomas [D-MD-4] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Lewis, Thomas F. [R-FL-12] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Nagle, Dave R, [D-IA-3] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Hayes, James A. [D-LA-7] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [R-TX-4] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. MacKay, Buddy [D-FL-6] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Skaggs, David E. [D-CO-2] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Nowak, Henry [D-NY-33] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Lagomarsino, Robert J. [R-CA-19] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Lloyd, Marilyn [D-TN-3] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Scheuer, James H. [D-NY-8] · D · Sponsor
• · sscm00 · Standing
• · hssy00 · Standing

Related records

• amends ← To revise the period of applicability of Federal financial support for launches.

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