Sponsor
Jasmine Crockett
Representative · D-TX
Representative · D-TX
The bill modernizes and consolidates U.S. space law and increases NASA transparency and ISS research access—improving oversight, research opportunity, and supply‑chain security—while imposing administrative burdens, potential added costs for taxpayers and NASA programs, and some legal/interpretive risks during transition.
Federal agencies, courts, and contractors will have clearer, modernized, and harmonized Title 51 text and citations, reducing ambiguity when applying U.S. space law and improving statutory navigation.
NASA must provide multi-year (5‑year) budgets and lifecycle cost estimates for major programs (> $200M), giving Congress and taxpayers better transparency and oversight of program costs and schedules.
Researchers, students, and U.S. commercial partners gain expanded ISS research access and outreach: at least 50% of U.S. ISS research capacity is reserved through Sept 30, 2030, the U.S. segment is designated a national laboratory, and outreach programs are expanded.
Federal agencies, courts, and legal databases will incur administrative and transition costs to update citations, internal references, guidance, and IT systems to reflect the restated Title 51 and redesigned citations.
NASA faces increased administrative burden from new requirements (5‑year budgets, lifecycle cost estimates, expanded reporting), which can divert staff time and resources from program execution and oversight.
Expanded reporting thresholds and disclosure for cost/schedule overruns and new procurement restrictions (trusted suppliers only) may raise program costs, complicate procurement, and increase the risk of program cancellations, scope reductions, or delays that affect jobs and missions.
Based on analysis of 12 sections of legislative text.
Modernizes and restates Title 51, updates NASA authorities (STEM role, lease proceeds, prize language), establishes ISS policy through Sept. 30, 2030, and provides transitional rules with an April 10, 2025 cutoff.
Official title: To make revisions in title 51, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current, and to make technical amendments to improve the United States Code.
Introduced September 8, 2025 by Jasmine Crockett · Last progress September 8, 2025
Rewrites and modernizes Title 51 of the U.S. Code (the federal space law chapter) to update citations, correct drafting errors, reorganize material, and restate existing law without changing legal effect. It also makes targeted substantive updates to NASA authorities and policy: clarifying prize authority, directing proceeds from certain leases to a specific NASA appropriations account, strengthening NASA’s role in STEM and interagency efforts, and establishing a U.S. policy to support and maximize use of the International Space Station through at least September 30, 2030. The Act includes transitional rules treating restated provisions as equivalent to their original source provisions (with an April 10, 2025 cutoff), and repeals specified obsolete provisions while preserving pre-enactment rights and proceedings.