S 434 — Space Commerce Advisory Committee Act
Last action — Held at the desk.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced February 05, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.
Prognosis
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Passed Senate
Current position in the legislative process.
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2 sponsors
1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (1 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
In plain language
The bill establishes a committee to advise on commercial space activities and environmental impacts.
This bill creates a Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on non-governmental space activities. The committee will focus on challenges in the commercial space sector and environmental concerns from space activities.
What this means for you
- Environment: This bill may help address potential environmental impacts from commercial space activities.
Summary
Space Commerce Advisory Committee ActThis bill requires the Office of Space Commerce to establish a Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee to provide information and recommendations on nongovernmental space activities and promoting a robust and innovative commercial space sector. Among other duties, the committee is directed to identify challenges to the U.S. commercial space sector and to review best practices for commercial space entities with respect to avoiding harmful contamination of the Moon and other celestial bodies and adverse impacts to the Earth’s environment from extraterrestrial matter. The committee must be comprised of representatives from varying fields with significant experience in the commercial space industry. The committee must terminate ten years after it is established.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
9 added · 143 removedPlain-language change summary
Changes have been made to the bill S. 434, specifically, some text has been added while other sections have been removed. The added lines indicate that the Secretary may not appoint someone as specified in a certain clause, while the removed lines include the entire definitions section and the short title of the Act. These modifications suggest a refocus of the bill by eliminating definitions and titles, potentially streamlining its content for clarity or conciseness.
434 ReportedEngrossed in Senate (RS)](ES)] <DOC> Calendar119th No.CONGRESS 2d Session S.
198434 119th_______________________________________________________________________ CONGRESSAN 1stACT SessionTo S.establish the Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee, and for other purposes.
434Be [Reportit No.enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
119-87] To establish the Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 5, 2025 Mr.
Peters (for himself and Mr.
Wicker) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation October 21, 2025 Reported by Mr.
Cruz, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To establish the Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <DELETED>SECTION 1.
SHORT TITLE.</DELETED> <DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Space Commerce Advisory Committee Act''.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
2.
DEFINITIONS.</DELETED> <DELETED> In this Act:</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Office of Space Commerce.</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Space object.--The term ``space object''-- </DELETED> <DELETED> (A) means--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) a human-made object located in outer space, including on the Moon or other celestial bodies, with or without human occupants, that was launched from Earth, such as a satellite or a spacecraft, including component parts of the object;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) all items carried on such object that are intended for use in outer space outside of, and independent of, the operation of such object;</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) includes any human-made object that is--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) manufactured or assembled in outer space;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) intended for operations in outer space other than, and independent of, the operations of such object in which the manufacturing or assembly occurred;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (C) does not include--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) an article aboard a space object that is only intended for use inside the space object;</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) an article manufactured or processed in outer space that is a material;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> (iii) an article intended for use outside a space object as part of the authorized operations of the space object.</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.</DELETED> <DELETED> (4) United states entity.--The term ``United States entity'' means--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) an individual who is a national of the United States (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101(a)));
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) a nongovernmental entity organized or existing under, and subject to, the laws of the United States or a State.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
3.
COMMERCIAL SPACE ACTIVITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.</DELETED> <DELETED> (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the ``Committee'').</DELETED> <DELETED> (b) Membership.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary.</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Qualifications.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of representatives from a variety of space policy, engineering, technical, science, legal, and finance fields who have significant experience in the commercial space industry.</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) Limitation.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (i), the Secretary may not appoint as a member of the Committee any employee or official of the Federal Government.</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) Exception.--The Secretary may appoint as a member of the Committee a special government employee (as defined in section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code) who serves on 1 or more other Federal advisory committees.</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) Term.--Each individual appointed as a member of the Committee--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) shall be appointed for a term of 4 years;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) during the 2-year period beginning on the date on which such term ends, may not serve as a member of the Committee.</DELETED> <DELETED> (c) Duties.--The duties of the Committee shall be-- </DELETED> <DELETED> (1) to advise on the status and recent developments of nongovernmental space activities;</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) to provide to the Secretary and Congress recommendations on the manner in which the United States may facilitate and promote a robust and innovative commercial sector that is investing in, developing, and operating space objects;</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) to identify any challenge faced by the United States commercial sector relating to--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) international obligations of the United States relevant to commercial space sector activities in outer space;</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) export controls that affect the commercial space sector;</DELETED> <DELETED> (C) harmful interference with commercial space sector activities in outer space;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (D) access to adequate, predictable, and reliable radio frequency spectrum;</DELETED> <DELETED> (4) to review existing best practices for United States entities to avoid--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) the harmful contamination of the Moon and other celestial bodies;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) adverse changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (5) to provide information, advice, and recommendations on matters relating to--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) United States commercial space sector activities in outer space;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) other commercial space sector activities, as the Committee considers necessary.</DELETED> <DELETED> (d) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date on which the Committee is established.</DELETED> SECTION 1.
(B) Limitation.-- (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (i),(ii), the Secretary may not appoint as a member of the Committee any employee or official of the Federal Government.
CalendarPassed No.the Senate August 6, 2026.
198Attest: 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
434Secretary. [Report No.
119-87]119th _______________________________________________________________________CONGRESS A2d BILLSession ToS. establish the Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee, and for other purposes.
434 _______________________________________________________________________ OctoberAN 21,ACT 2025To Reportedestablish withthe anCommercial amendmentSpace Activity Advisory Committee, and for other purposes.
View plain text versions (3)
- Engrossed Engrossed in Senate Current html August 06, 2026
- Reported Reported to Senate html October 21, 2025
- Introduced Introduced in Senate html February 05, 2025
What Congress says this changes
S. Rept. 119-87Published by the reporting committee Not generated — this is the committee's own “Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported”.
Source: S. Rept. 119-87 · govinfo
Action History
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Introduced in Senate
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
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Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-87.
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Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-87.
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 198.
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Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4493-4494)
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The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
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Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S4493-4494)
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Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S4493-4494)
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Message on Senate action sent to the House.
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Received in the House.
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Held at the desk.
Sponsors
- Roger F. Wicker · Cosponsor
- Gary C. Peters · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 545 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Peters, Gary C. Democratic
Co-sponsors (1)
- Wicker, Roger F. Republican
Not signed on (545)
545 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 545 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 434 do?
- Space Commerce Advisory Committee ActThis bill requires the Office of Space Commerce to establish a Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee to provide information and recommendations on nongovernmental space activities and promoting a robust and innovative commercial space sector. Among other duties, the committee is directed to identify challenges to the U.S. commercial space sector and to review best practices for commercial space entities with respect to avoiding harmful contamination of the Moon and other celestial bodies and adverse impacts to the Earth’s environment from extraterrestrial matter. The committee must be comprised of representatives from varying fields with significant experience in the commercial space industry. The committee must terminate ten years after it is established.
- Who sponsors S 434?
- S 434 is sponsored by Wicker, Roger F. (Republican) and Peters, Gary C. (Democratic).
- What is the current status of S 434?
- This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced February 05, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track S 434?
- Track S 434 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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