Nye Votes To Simplify Space Commerce Rules

The commercial space flight industry, including facilities like the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at Wallops Island, could get a boost thanks to a new bill supported by local Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02).

On Wednesday, Nye joined a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives to pass a bill that will simplify the laws and regulations governing national and commercial space flight programs.

"Commercial space flight is a growing sector of our economy, and it has the potential to create thousands of new jobs here on the Eastern Shore. Simplifying these regulations will help new businesses grow and succeed, creating more jobs and growing our economy," said Congressman Nye.

According to the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority (VSCFA), the MARS facility at Wallops Island will support the creation of 400 new jobs and $93 million in infrastructure development this year.

The legislation (H.R. 3237) passed the House by unanimous voice vote. It consolidates existing laws relating to national and commercial space programs that have been enacted separately over the years, and designates these laws as Title 51 in the U.S. Code.

Simplifying and clarifying these laws is expected to help the growth commercial space flight industry by reducing confusion about the various rules governing areas such as NASA, commercial space programs, and the international space station.

Billie Reed, the Executive Director of the VCSFA, said: "I am extremely pleased with the focus that this Congress has placed on commercial space activities. I believe that the National and Commercial Space Program Act, HR 3237, will clarify many of the previous ambiguities in the US Code related to commercial space endeavors serving to enhance the conduct of space commerce."

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