H.R. 3804

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to conduct a study on the feasibility of carrying out a grant program to assist communities affected by noise from space launch activities of the Department of Defense.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · June 6, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Carbajal · Committee: Committee on Armed Services

Table of contents

• H.R. 3804
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Sense of Congress
  • SEC. 3. Study on space launch noise mitigation

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Space Launch Noise Mitigation Study Act.

SEC. 2. Sense of Congress

• It is the sense of Congress that—
  • the commercial space launch industry is a fundamental part of United States national security and contributes greatly to assured access to space;
  • United States national security benefits from a competitive and diverse launch industry;
  • space services are critical to sectors including transportation, communication, agriculture, financial services, and others; and
  • as referenced in the report of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives accompanying H.R. 8070 of the 118th Congress, the increase of launches as a result of national security and commercial launches can be disruptive to nearby communities.

SEC. 3. Study on space launch noise mitigation

• (a) Study
  • Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall complete a study on the feasibility of conducting a space launch noise mitigation grant program.
• (b) Matters included
  • The study under subsection (a) shall include the following:
    • An estimate of funds necessary to carry out a space launch noise mitigation grant program, including estimated breakdowns for different covered facilities, and how many covered facilities are in each eligible community.
    • Recommendations on the geographic range for which communities shall be eligible.
    • Recommendations on noise mitigating techniques and technologies for eligible communities, and the estimated cost for each recommendation.
    • Recommendations for ways the Space Force can work better with eligible communities to avoid noise disturbances.
    • Recommendations for a community outreach program to educate eligible communities near launch ranges on the benefits of space.
• (c) Considerations
  • In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Under Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Commanders of Space Launch Delta 30 and Space Launch Delta 45, shall consider the following:
    • C-weighted single-event noise, including noise generated by sonic booms, of 100 dB or greater.
    • A-weighted maximum sound level of 90 dB or greater.
    • C-weighted day night average sound level of 115 dB Peak or greater.
    • PK 15.
    • A direct association between noise and its measured effect on the geographic regions where sonic booms from space activity can be heard.
    • A literature review of the research to date.
    • Structure responses to vibration from sound power levels and overpressure.
    • Data from all Federal ranges with at least one or more vertical space launches per year in 2024 and thereafter.
    • Sonic boom monitoring stations for a wide area in the region surrounding the space launch range.
    • Any other metrics or indicators the Under Secretary determines appropriate.
• (d) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term covered facility means a hospital, daycare facility, school, facility serving senior citizens, or a single- or multi-unit private residence, that is—
    • The term eligible community means a unit of local government serving a geographic region that the Secretary of the Air Force determines to be negatively affected by noise from space launch activities of the Department of Defense.
    • The term PK 15 means the calculated peak noise level, without frequency weighting, expected to be exceeded by 15 percent of all space launch activities of the Department of Defense.
    • The term space launch noise mitigation grant program means a potential grant program administered by the Secretary of Defense under which eligible communities install technologies to mitigate noise from the space launch activities of the Department of Defense.