Space Exploration Research Act

Senate Bill

S. 2351

119th Congress

Space Exploration Research Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jul 17, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Chuck Grassley

Senator

Republican

IA

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Summary

This bill would change the rules around how certain types of taxes on aviation fuel can be used by airports that receive federal funding. It would specify that the requirements only apply to excise taxes on aviation fuel, and not to general sales taxes or other broadly applicable taxes.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2990)

SponsorChuck Grassley (R-IA)

Introduced7/17/2025

StatusCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the

ChamberSenate

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Vote Prediction

Space Exploration Research Act

This bill would change the rules around how certain types of taxes on aviation fuel can be used by airports that receive federal funding. It would specify that the requirements only apply to excise taxes on aviation fuel, and not to general sales taxes or othe

Community Breakdown

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This bill would change the rules around how certain types of taxes on aviation fuel can be used by airports that receive federal funding. It would specify that the requirements only apply to excise taxes on aviation fuel, and not to general sales taxes or other broadly applicable taxes.

Bill Number: 2351
Sponsor: Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Introduced: 7/17/2025
Status: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the
Policy Area: Transportation and Public Works

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Space Exploration Research Act
Bill Number: 2351
Sponsor: Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Status: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the
Introduced: 7/17/2025
Summary: This bill would change the rules around how certain types of taxes on aviation fuel can be used by airports that receive federal funding. It would specify that the requirements only apply to excise taxes on aviation fuel, and not to general sales taxes or other broadly applicable taxes.

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would change the rules around how certain types of taxes on aviation fuel can be used by airports that receive federal funding. It would specify that the requirements only apply to excise taxes on aviation fuel, and not to general sales taxes or other broadly applicable taxes.

Last updated: 12/30/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

State and Local General Sales Tax Protection Act This bill specifies that certain requirements for aviation fuel tax revenue are limited to excise taxes on aviation fuel. Current law requires that an Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant recipient provide assurances that the proceeds from state and local taxes on aviation fuel will be used for the capital or operating costs of the airport or local airport system. Under current Federal Aviation Administration policy, this requirement applies to any tax on aviation fuel, regardless of whether the tax is imposed only on aviation fuel or is imposed on other products as well as aviation fuel. This bill specifies that the AIP grant requirements apply only to state and local excise taxes on aviation fuel. The requirements do not apply to (1) state or local general sales taxes, or (2) state or local generally applicable sales taxes.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

The bill would change the rules for how airports can use revenue from state and local taxes on aviation fuel.
Under current law, airports have to use all revenue from aviation fuel taxes for airport capital or operating costs. This bill would limit that requirement to just excise taxes on aviation fuel.
The bill would not apply the aviation fuel tax revenue requirements to general sales taxes or other broadly applicable taxes that also include aviation fuel.

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

If this bill becomes law, it would primarily affect airports that receive federal funding through the Airport Improvement Program. These airports would have more flexibility in how they can use revenue from general sales taxes and other broadly applicable taxes that include aviation fuel, rather than being required to use all of that revenue for airport costs.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

2351, 119th Congress (2025). "Space Exploration Research Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-2351

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