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H.R. 6586 (112th): Space Exploration Sustainability Act
- Introduced:
- Nov 09, 2012 (112th Congress, 2011–2013)
- Sponsor:
- Rep. Steven Palazzo [R-MS4]
- Status:
- Signed by the President
- Slip Law:
- This bill became Pub.L. 112-273.
The bill’s title was written by the bill’s sponsor. H.R. stands for House of Representatives bill.
- Full Title
To extend the application of certain space launch liability provisions through 2014.
- Summary
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No summaries available.
- Text
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Last updated Jan 03, 2013.
2 pages
- Primary Source
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View on THOMAS (The Library of Congress)
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- Citation
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Library of Congress Summary
The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.
1/1/2013--Passed Senate amended.
Space Exploration Sustainability Act - Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 to express the sense of Congress that the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall proceed with the use of the International Space Station (ISS), technology development, and follow-on transportation systems (including the space launch system and the multipurpose crew vehicle) in a manner ensuring:
(1) that these capabilities remain inherently complementary and interrelated;
(2) a balance of the development, sustainment, and use of each of these capabilities, which are of critical importance to the viability and sustainability of the U.S. space program; and
(3) that resources required to support the timely and sustainable development of these capabilities authorized in either title III or title IV of such Act are not derived from a reduction in resources for the capabilities authorized in the other title.
Extends, through December 31, 2013, the authority of the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to pay compensation for claims in excess of a commercial space launcher's required insurance coverage.
Amends the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act to remove the purchase of goods or services relating to human space flight not required to be made under a contract or other agreement in effect on January 1, 1999, from the definition of "extraordinary payments in connection with the International Space Station" which federal agencies are prohibited from making to the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (RASA) and organizations or entities under its jurisdiction unless the President makes specified determinations regarding Russian cooperation in preventing weapons proliferation relating to Iran, North Korea, and Syria. (Thus waives the presidential determination requirement for federal agency payments to RASA for the purchase of any goods or services relating to human space flight.) Extends from July 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020, the current exception to the presidential determination requirement for payments for work to be performed or services to be rendered for work on the ISS before such date necessary to meet U.S. obligations under the Agreement Concerning Cooperation on the Civil International Space Station.
House Republican Conference Summary
The summary below was written by the House Republican Conference, which is the caucus of Republicans in the House of Representatives.
This summary can be found at http://www.gop.gov/bill/112/2/hr6586.
Background
According to the House Committee on Science, the commercial space transportation risk-sharing and liability regime, which was established in the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 1988 (PL 100-657), requires all commercial launch operators to purchase a fixed amount of insurance to cover any injuries or property damage to the uninvolved public, or “third parties.” The launch indemnification program was created to provide a structured risk-sharing regime to address third-party liability to protect the uninvolved public and property. As part of its commercial licensing process, FAA requires launch companies to purchase third-party liability coverage from the insurance market at a level calculated by the agency to be the maximum probable loss. As a consequence of these calculations, FAA’s decision sets the threshold at which federal coverage begins, up to a maximum limit of $2.7 billion. According to the bill’s sponsor, “Since the program’s inception, over 200 commercial licensed launches have been flown without one federal dollar being paid out in damages.”
As a part of this program, the government agrees to assume a portion of liability above the level of coverage purchased by the launch/reentry vehicle operator. If federal coverage were ever to be triggered, it would require the Administration to request federal indemnification, and a separate bill appropriating funding to be passed by Congress.
Since establishing the risk-sharing and liability regime over 200 launches have been licensed without any claims for federal coverage for loss of life, serious injuries, or significant property damage to the general public.
The ability of the government to assume some financial responsibility for losses to third parties allows a developing space launch industry to continue to grow.
Summary
The bill would extend the authority to carry out the current U.S. policy to provide federal payment, subject to appropriation—known as indemnification—for a portion of claims by third parties not covered by the launch/reentry operator’s insurance policy for injury, damage, or loss that result from a commercial launch-related incident. Currently, the authority would expire at the end of this year, December 31, 2012. The program has been extended five times, and H.R.6586 would extend the current regime for two years, until December 31, 2014.
Cost
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 6586 would not impact direct spending or revenues.
House Democratic Caucus Summary
The House Democratic Caucus does not provide summaries of bills.
So, yes, we display the House Republican Conference’s summaries when available even if we do not have a Democratic summary available. That’s because we feel it is better to give you as much information as possible, even if we cannot provide every viewpoint.
We’ll be looking for a source of summaries from the other side in the meanwhile.
The bill contains the following citations to other parts of U.S. law:
United States Code
The United States Code is the compilation of permanent laws enacted by Congress. Temporary and other non-permanent laws do not appear in the United States Code. (About half of the United States Code is the law itself, called positive law. The other half is merely a compilation of the laws but has no legal significance.)
- Title 42: THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
- Chapter 159: SPACE EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SCIENCE
- Subchapter I: POLICY, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES FOR HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT AND EXPLORATION
- Section 18313: Assurance of core capabilities
- Title 50: WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
- Chapter 35: INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY ECONOMIC POWERS
- Section 1701: Unusual and extraordinary threat; declaration of national emergency; exercise of Presidential authorities
- Title 51: NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS
- Subtitle V: Programs Targeting Commercial Opportunities
- Chapter 509: COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH ACTIVITIES
- Section 50915: Paying claims exceeding liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements