Bill Summary
The **Alleviating Spaceport Traffic by Rewarding Operators Act of 2025** is a proposed bill aimed at enhancing intermodal transportation infrastructure at launch and reentry sites in the United States. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program that provides grants to operators of these sites for the construction, repair, maintenance, or improvement of transportation facilities.
Key elements of the bill include:
1. **Grant Eligibility**: Operators must apply for grants, demonstrating that their projects support transportation safety and are generally available for public use.
2. **Grant Amounts**: Operators can receive grants based on the number of launch or reentry operations conducted in the previous fiscal year, with specific amounts allocated for licensed and permitted operations, up to a maximum of $2.5 million per operator per year.
3. **Matching Grants**: The program encourages additional funding by offering supplemental grants if operators secure matching funds from qualified entities, providing up to 50% of the original grant amount based on the level of matching funds received.
4. **Funding Limitations**: Overall funding for the pilot program is capped at $20 million annually, and the Secretary has discretion to reduce grants if necessary to stay within this limit.
5. **Definitions**: The bill includes definitions for key terms, such as "operator," "launch site," and "covered transportation activity," which encompasses various forms of transport related to the movement of people or property to and from launch sites.
The pilot program is set to sunset on October 1, 2030, indicating that it is a temporary initiative to assess the effectiveness of improving transportation infrastructure in support of space operations.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Alleviating Spaceport Traffic by Rewarding Operators Act of 2025" could affect people:
1. **Improved Transportation Infrastructure**:
The bill allows for grants to construct or improve transportation infrastructure at launch and reentry sites. This could lead to better roads, railways, or other transportation systems that connect these sites to nearby communities. As a result, local residents may experience reduced traffic congestion and improved access to jobs, services, and amenities. Enhanced infrastructure can also promote economic development in the region.
2. **Increased Job Opportunities**:
By funding projects that enhance transportation infrastructure related to space operations, the bill could create new job opportunities in construction, engineering, and logistics. Local workers might find employment in the development and maintenance of these facilities. Moreover, as the space industry grows due to improved infrastructure, there could be additional positions in areas such as aerospace engineering, operations management, and customer service for companies involved in space launches and related activities.
3. **Enhanced Safety and Environmental Considerations**:
The legislation emphasizes projects that directly support transportation safety. As a result, operators may be encouraged to implement safer practices and technologies at launch sites and associated transportation routes. This focus on safety can lead to a reduction in accidents and environmental incidents, which benefits not only those working at the launch sites but also nearby communities. Improved safety measures can foster public trust and acceptance of space operations, ultimately leading to a more sustainable and responsible growth of the space industry.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 980 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 980
To establish an intermodal transportation infrastructure pilot program,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 12, 2025
Mr. Warner (for himself, Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Lujan) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish an intermodal transportation infrastructure pilot program,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Alleviating Spaceport Traffic by
Rewarding Operators Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PILOT
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may establish a pilot program to
issue grants to operators of launch and reentry sites for projects to
construct, repair, maintain, or improve transportation infrastructure
and facilities at such sites.
(b) Pilot Program Qualifications.--The Secretary may enter into
agreements under this section to issue a grant to an operator only if
the operator--
(1) has submitted an application to the Secretary in such
form, at such time, and containing such information as
prescribed by the Secretary;
(2) demonstrates to the Secretary's satisfaction that the
project for which the application has been submitted is for a
permitted use under subsection (c); and
(3) agrees to maintain such records relating to the grant
as the Secretary may require and to make such records available
to the Secretary or the Comptroller General of the United
States upon request.
(c) Permitted Use of Pilot Program Grants.--An operator may use a
grant provided under this section for a project to construct, repair,
maintain, or improve infrastructure and facilities that--
(1) are located at, or adjacent to, a launch or reentry
site;
(2) directly enable or support transportation safety or
covered transportation activities; and
(3) shall be made generally available subject to reasonable
commercial and other terms as appropriate.
(d) Pilot Program Grants.--
(1) Grant formula.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, at the beginning of each fiscal year after
fiscal year 2026, the Secretary may issue to an operator that
qualifies for the pilot program under subsection (b) a grant in
an amount equal to the sum of--
(A) $250,000 for each launch or reentry operation
under a license described in section 50905 of title 51,
United States Code, conducted from the applicable
launch or reentry site or at any adjacent Federal
launch range in the previous fiscal year; and
(B) $100,000 for each launch or reentry operation
conducted under a permit (as defined in section 50902
of title 51, United States Code) from the applicable
launch or reentry site or at any adjacent Federal
launch range in the previous fiscal year.
(2) Maximum grant.--Except as provided in subsection
(e)(5), a grant issued to an operator under this subsection
shall not exceed $2,500,000 for a fiscal year.
(3) Adjacency.--
(A) In general.--In issuing a grant to an operator
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall determine
whether a launch or reentry site is adjacent to a
Federal launch range.
(B) Limitation.--In the event that more than 1
operator adjacent to a Federal launch range seeks
funding under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
determine which operator receives the grant based on
criteria set forth in section 50901(b)(4) of title 51,
United States Code.
(C) Multiple launch or reentry sites operated by 1
operator.--If an operator holds a license to operate
more than 1 launch site or more than 1 reentry site
that are adjacent to a Federal launch range, the
Secretary shall consider such launch or reentry sites
as 1 launch or reentry site for purposes of
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1).
(e) Supplemental Grants in Support of State, Local, or Private
Matching.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may issue a supplemental
grant to an operator, subject to the requirements of this
subsection.
(2) Dollar-for-dollar matching.--If a qualified entity
provides an operator an amount equal to or greater than the
amount of a grant provided in a fiscal year under subsection
(d) (for the explicit purpose of matching such grant), the
Secretary may issue a supplemental grant to the operator that
is equal to 25 percent of such grant in the following fiscal
year.
(3) Additional non-federal matching.--If a qualified entity
provides an operator an amount equal to or greater than 2 times
the amount of a grant provided in a fiscal year to the operator
under subsection (d) (for the explicit purpose of matching such
grant), the Secretary may issue a supplemental grant to the
operator that is equal to 50 percent of such grant in the
following fiscal year.
(4) Supplemental grant limitations.--
(A) Match timing.--The Secretary may issue a
supplemental grant under paragraph (2) or (3) only if
an amount provided by a qualified entity is provided to
the operator in the same fiscal year as the grant
issued under subsection (d).
(B) Non-duplication of matching grants.--If the
Secretary issues a supplemental grant to the operator
of a launch site under paragraph (3), the Secretary may
not issue a supplemental grant under paragraph (2) to
the same operator in the same fiscal year.
(5) Non-application of grant ceiling.--The limitation on a
grant amount under subsection (d)(2) shall not apply to
supplemental grants issued under this subsection.
(f) Funding.--
(1) Pilot program grant funds.--The grants issued under
this section shall be issued from funds made available out of
amounts available under section 106(k) of title 49, United
States Code.
(2) Maximum annual limit on pilot program.--
(A) In general.--The total amount of all grants
issued under this section shall not exceed $20,000,000
in any fiscal year.
(B) Grant reduction.--In complying with
subparagraph (A), the Secretary--
(i) may proportionally reduce the amount
of, or decline to issue, a supplemental grant
under subsection (e); and
(ii) if the reduction under clause (i) is
insufficient, shall proportionally reduce
grants issued under subsection (d).
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered transportation activity.--The term ``covered
transportation activity'' means the movement of people or
property to, from, or within a launch site and the necessary or
incidental activities associated with such movement through the
use of--
(A) a vehicle (as defined in section 4 of title 1,
United States Code);
(B) a vessel (as defined in section 3 of title 1,
United States Code);
(C) a railroad (as defined in section 20102 of
title 49, United States Code);
(D) an aircraft (as defined in section 40102 of
title 49, United States Code); or
(E) a pipeline facility (as defined in section
60101 of title 49, United States Code).
(2) Launch; launch site; launch vehicle; reentry site;
reentry vehicle.--The terms ``launch'', ``launch site'',
``launch vehicle'', ``reentry site'', and ``reentry vehicle''
have the meanings given those terms in section 50902 of title
51, United States Code.
(3) Operator.--The term ``operator'' means a person
licensed by the Secretary to operate a launch or reentry site.
(4) Qualified entity.--The term ``qualified entity'' means
a State, local, territorial, or Tribal government or private
sector entity, or any combination thereof.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(h) Pilot Program Sunset.--This section shall cease to be effective
on October 1, 2030.
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