Hickenlooper, Cornyn, Luján, Wicker, Strong, Whitesides, Fong Reintroduce Bill to Boost Spaceports

Bipartisan investments will help spaceports across the country launch new era of American space ventures

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, John Cornyn, Ben Ray Luján, and Roger Wicker and U.S. Representatives Dale Strong, George Whitesides, and Vince Fong reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Spaceport Project Opportunities for Resilient Transportation (SPACEPORT) Act, which would encourage the development of commercial spaceports through the modernization of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching (STIM) grant program.

Spaceports, including the Colorado Air and Space Port in Adams County, are ground-based launch and reentry sites that can be used to support public and private ventures into space. There are currently 14 FAA-licensed commercial spaceports in the U.S., with additional spaceport projects planned.

"As America's space industry reaches new heights, our spaceports need long-overdue resources to keep pace," said Hickenlooper. "Investments in spaceports in Colorado and across the country will prepare us for wherever our future in space takes us."

"Outdated space infrastructure could not only compromise a mission's operational ability but also threaten our national security if left unaddressed," said Cornyn. "This legislation would help modernize our country's spaceports to bolster the reliability of launch, landing, and mission success and ensure America maintains our competitive edge in space exploration."

"As New Mexico's space industry continues to rapidly grow, it is vital that we invest in our space infrastructure to launch us into a new era of space exploration," said Luján. "I'm proud to reintroduce the SPACEPORT Act, legislation that will support critical investments in our country's space launch infrastructure, including at New Mexico's Spaceport America. I look forward to working with colleagues to pass this bipartisan legislation and help continue to establish New Mexico's position as a leader in science, technology, and other emerging industries."

"Without improved infrastructure, America cannot meet demand for space launches. Mississippi's Stennis Space Center has led the U.S. in rocket engine testing. Legislation like the SPACEPORTS Act will provide even more opportunities for the Center. Creating and expanding spaceports nationwide will help communications, navigation, weather forecasting, agriculture, disaster response, and the military," said Wicker.

"The United States continues to set the pace in space exploration, and North Alabama stands at the heart of that momentum. During my time as chairman of the Madison County Commission, I worked closely with community leaders and industry partners to help secure Huntsville International Airport's designation as the nation's first licensed reentry site for space vehicles. With unmatched capabilities across civil, commercial, and national security space programs, North Alabama is uniquely positioned to drive the infrastructure that will define the next generation of space innovation," said Strong.

"Our district is home to some of the most innovative aerospace companies in the world, and our local economy depends on staying at the forefront of space technology," said Whitesides. "I'm proud to join my colleagues to introduce the Spaceports Act, which will ensure our infrastructure can keep pace with growing demand and keep America competitive and secure on the global stage."

"Investing in America's space port infrastructure is vital to our nation's future," said Fong. "With the Mojave Air and Space Port, my district sees firsthand the incredible innovations driven by our rapidly growing commercial space sector. I'm honored to support this critical legislation that will keep our country on the cutting edge."

"CSF applauds the introduction of the Spaceport Act by Senator Hickenlooper, Senator Cornyn, Congressman Strong, and Congressman Whitesides. The U.S. government and American people are increasingly reliant on space-based services and capabilities that are launched from only a handful of domestic launch sites. Passage of this bill will pave the way for investment in space test and launch infrastructure across the country so there are multiple sites to launch national security and commercial space missions," said Dave Cavossa, President of Commercial Spaceflight Federation.

With more commercial spaceports emerging across the U.S., there is a growing need to establish a dedicated funding source from the Department of Transportation to support the unique infrastructure needs of the space transportation industry.

The FAA's STIM program promotes the development of resilient U.S. space transportation capabilities by providing federal grants for spaceport infrastructure projects. However, the program has not been modernized since it was first created in 1994, and the program has effectively lapsed since fiscal year 2012.

The SPACEPORT Act would reauthorize and update the STIM program to reflect the growing demand for civil, commercial, and national security launches. The legislation would also refine the funding mechanisms to support new spaceport construction projects and infrastructure updates to operational spaceports across the country.

The bill is supported by the Colorado Air & Space Port and members of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. The bill was originally introduced in the 118th Congress.

For full text of the bill, click HERE.

###