SPACEPORT Act
The SPACEPORT Act would modify the Space Transportation Infrastructure Modernization Grants program, housed in Chapter 511 of title 51, United States Code. Its goals are to expand and streamline federal support for building and upgrading spaceport infrastructure to meet civil, national security, and commercial space transportation needs, while strengthening US competitiveness in international space markets. The bill redefines who can receive and administer grants, tightens funding terms, and imposes new interagency coordination and reporting requirements. Key changes include a more inclusive definition of “public agency,” a cap on federal grants (with a potential waiver for national-interest cases), clearer eligibility criteria and project evaluation processes, mandated interagency consultation (with DoD, NASA, and the Department of Commerce, among others), a formal reporting requirement with schedule for updates, and a fixed annual appropriation ceiling for grants. The overall effect is to formalize and constrain federal grant support for spaceport projects, while ensuring strategic alignment with national space policy and international competitiveness.
Key Points
- 1Redefined "public agency" to include states, state agencies, political subdivisions, airport authorities, and tax-support organizations.
- 2Grant funding limits: grants may cover up to 90% of total project cost, with a possible waiver if the Secretary determines it is in the national interest.
- 3Expanded eligibility criteria: broadens focus to civil, national security, and commercial space transportation needs; evaluates impacts on government launch ranges and related activities; requires explicit criteria for project evaluation and selection; mandates interagency consultation (DoD, NASA, Department of Commerce, etc.).
- 4Reporting requirements: within 2 years, the Secretary of Transportation must submit a Congress-facing report on demand for space transportation services, policy and funding options, and international capabilities; updates are due every 6 years after enactment and then every 4 years.
- 5Funding and structural changes: authorizes grants with an annual cap of not more than $10,000,000; technical amendments renaming and reordering the chapter to “Space Transportation Infrastructure Modernization Grants.”