Edwards Offers Bipartisan Senate Compromise As Amendment To SPACE Act

Debate

Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4) today offered a substitute amendment to H.R. 2262, which would have replaced the text with that of S. 1297, the bipartisan Senate compromise measure introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Gary Peters (D-MI).

"I think most of us on both sides of the aisle share in the excitement about the commercial space industry and want it to succeed," Edwards said. "Indeed, since the very beginning, the federal government has supported the private space industry, at both the state and federal level, with funding, data, and guidance with best practices. Who knows what developments will occur in the commercial space arena in the coming years. What we do know is that it won't just be commercial cargo transported into space, it will also be people.

"That is why it is up to Congress to develop responsible commercial space policies that both encourage the commercial space industry and protect those who will participate as the users of industry's services and activities. I offered this substitute amendment because I think we have a unique opportunity this week to pass bipartisan commercial space legislation that actually stands a chance of becoming law. Pursuing House passage of a bill that is going nowhere in the Senate seems to me to be the ultimate exercise in futility, and one that does a real disservice to the commercial space launch industry that we all are trying to help succeed."

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