Press Releases

The Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure today commended Senators Ted Cruz, Ed Markey, and Bill Nelson for acting to address the Nation’s commercial space transportation regulatory structure.  The Senators introduced the Space Frontier Act of 2018.

“I commend the leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee for seeking improvements to the regulation of commercial space transportation.  Their action represents a critical step forward for this new and growing mode of transportation,” said Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA).  “It’s important to ensure the Department of Transportation remains the federal government’s one-stop-shop for commercial space transportation and that the American aerospace industry continues leading the world in technology and innovation.  I look forward to working with them to achieve that goal.”

“The Department of Transportation provides the safest and most efficient aerospace system in the world—that’s why Congress designated DOT as the lead Federal agency in charge of regulating commercial space transportation,” said Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR).  “While there are changes I would like to see, this bill smartly recognizes the essential and growing role of the Department in advancing a safe and successful commercial space industry.  I look forward to working with Chairman Shuster on these issues to ensure the United States remains the global leader in this industry.”

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has held several hearings on commercial space transportation over the past few years.  Additionally, the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 4), which overwhelmingly passed the House in April, contains numerous commercial space transportation provisions.