Space Commerce Advisory Committee Act

Senate Bill

S. 434

119th Congress

Space Commerce Advisory Committee Act

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 198.

Introduced:Feb 5, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Gary C. Peters

Senator

Democratic

MI

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Summary

This bill requires the Office of Space Commerce to create an advisory committee on commercial space activities. The committee will identify challenges to the U.S. commercial space sector and review best practices for avoiding contamination of celestial bodies and protecting Earth from extraterrestrial matter.

Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 198.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires the Office of Space Commerce to create an advisory committee on commercial space activities. The committee will identify challenges to the U.S. commercial space sector and review best practices for avoiding contamination of celestial bodies and protecting Earth from extraterrestrial matter.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Space Commerce Advisory Committee ActThis bill requires the Office of Space Commerce to establish a Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee to provide information and recommendations on nongovernmental space activities and promoting a robust and innovative commercial space sector. Among other duties, the committee is directed to identify challenges to the U.S. commercial space sector and to review best practices for commercial space entities with respect to avoiding harmful contamination of the Moon and other celestial bodies and adverse impacts to the Earth’s environment from extraterrestrial matter. The committee must be comprised of representatives from varying fields with significant experience in the commercial space industry. The committee must terminate ten years after it is established.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Creates Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee
Housed within Office of Space Commerce
Identifies challenges to U.S. commercial space sector
Reviews contamination prevention for celestial bodies
Committee terminates after ten years

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

The growing commercial space industry would have a formal channel to provide recommendations to the federal government. Policies on space commerce, planetary protection, and industry promotion could be informed by experienced industry representatives.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Subjects

Advisory bodies

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Public-private cooperation

Space flight and exploration

Spacecraft and satellites

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

434, 119th Congress (2025). "Space Commerce Advisory Committee Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-434