Sponsors (3)
The bill provides targeted, matched grants and oversight to improve launch‑site infrastructure and local transportation access while limiting taxpayer exposure, but funding caps, a sunset date, and a requirement for commercial availability constrain long‑term certainty and may prioritize commercially viable projects over some community or public‑safety needs.
Operators of commercial launch and reentry sites will receive predictable per-operation grants ($250,000 per licensed operation; $100,000 per permitted operation) to build or improve site infrastructure, supporting safer and more reliable operations.
State and local governments and private operators that secure matching non‑Federal contributions can obtain supplemental grants (25% or 50% matching), leveraging additional private and local investment to stretch federal dollars.
Communities near launch sites—particularly rural communities—may see improved transportation access and adjacent facilities from pilot grants, benefiting local businesses and movement of people/cargo.
All taxpayers bear the cost of the program (funded from 49 U.S.C. §106(k) resources) and face an opportunity cost because up to $20 million per year is directed here instead of other transportation priorities.
Operators of launch and reentry sites may receive less than requested support because of the $2.5 million per-operator cap and the $20 million overall cap, meaning some eligible projects could be partially funded or excluded if demand exceeds funding.
Local governments and nearby communities could see projects prioritized on commercial viability because funded projects must be made generally available on reasonable commercial terms, which may discourage purely public‑safety or non‑commercial community uses.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DOT pilot grant program (FY2027–2030) that pays launch/reentry site operators per prior‑year operation to improve adjacent transportation infrastructure, with caps and matching supplements.
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to run a pilot grant program (operations beginning FY2027) that pays licensed launch/reentry site operators for construction, repair, maintenance, or improvement of transportation infrastructure located at or next to launch or reentry sites when those facilities are generally available under reasonable commercial terms. Grants are calculated per prior‑year launch/permitted operations, include a per‑operator cap on base grants, offer supplemental matching grants, are funded from specified DOT amounts subject to appropriations, and the pilot expires October 1, 2030.
Introduced March 12, 2025 by Mark R. Warner · Last progress March 12, 2025