Sec. 103. Use of existing authorities

399 words·~2 min read·/bill/115/s/3277/rs/section-103

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It is the sense of Congress that, in the absence of comprehensive regulatory reform, the Secretary of Transportation should make use of existing authorities, including waivers and safety approvals, as appropriate, to protect the public, make more efficient use of resources, and reduce the regulatory burden for an applicant for a commercial space launch or reentry license or experimental permit. Section 50905 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— in subsection (a)— in paragraph (1), by striking subsection (b)(2)(D) each place it appears and inserting subsection (b)(2)(E) ; and in paragraph (2)— by inserting software, after services, ; and by adding at the end the following:

Such safety approvals may be issued simultaneously with a license under this chapter. ; and by adding at the end the following: The Secretary— shall use existing authorities, including waivers and safety approvals, as appropriate, to make more efficient use of resources and reduce the regulatory burden for an applicant under this section; and may use the launch and reentry payload review process to authorize nongovernmental space activities that are related to an application for a license or permit under this chapter and are not subject to authorization under other Federal law.

The Secretary shall expedite the processing of safety approvals that would reduce risks to health or safety during launch and reentry. . Section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— by redesignating paragraphs

(21)through

(25)as paragraphs

(24)through (28), respectively; by redesignating paragraph

(20)as paragraph (22); by redesignating paragraphs

(12)through

(19)as paragraphs

(13)through (20), respectively; by inserting after paragraph

(11)the following: nongovernmental space activity means a space activity of a person other than— the United States Government; or a Government contractor or subcontractor if the Government contractor or subcontractor is performing the space activity for the Government. ; by inserting after paragraph (20), as redesignated, the following: space activity has the meaning given the term in section 60101 of this title. ; and by inserting after paragraph (22), as redesignated, the following: space object has the meaning given the term in section 60101 of this title. . Section 50904 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary may issue a single license or permit for an operator to conduct launch services and reentry services at multiple launch sites or reentry sites. .