Launch Communications Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1648, the Launch Communications Act.

Over the last decade, we have seen the costs for exploring space drop dramatically. As a result, space launches in this country have increased dramatically. In 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration authorized eight launches. By 2023, just a decade later, the number was 117, and the number of space launches is only expected to increase in the years to come. Indeed, the FAA has already authorized over 100 launches this year.

To ensure our Nation as a global leader in space and other cutting- edge technologies, we must continue to foster this growth, which, in turn, will enhance our national security capabilities.

Transporting satellites to space cannot happen without launch entities having reliable access to electromagnetic spectrum. While the FCC has made impressive strides in the last year to allocate more spectrum for space launches, additional spectrum resources are needed. Congress must build on the FCC's efforts by making more spectrum available for commercial space launches as well as the space reentries.

This bill would help solve this challenge. Specifically, the Launch Communications Act directs the FCC to complete a rulemaking proceeding and adopt rules so that commercial space launches and reentries have access to the spectrum bands identified in the bill. The bill also requires the FCC to streamline its process for licensing spectrum to commercial space launch providers. Taken together, these efforts will better support providers as they communicate with their space vehicles during flight and upon reentry.

While this bill and its House companion are nearly identical, I will note that the differences between the two should not have a significant impact on the effect of the bill.

For instance, the House bill included a savings clause to specify that nothing in the bill would change the current special temporary authority for launch spectrum. While the version we are debating today does not have the savings clause, nothing in this bill should impact the ability of the FCC to provide access to launch spectrum using its special temporary authority.

I commend Representatives Soto and Dunn for their bipartisan work on the House version of the bill. S. 1648 will help secure America's leadership in the commercial space industry by strengthening our Nation's position as a prime destination for launching satellites into space.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill that basically provides commercial space launches access to spectrum and does other things to promote space launches and reentries.

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