Space RACE Act

Bill Number

S. 3198

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Last Updated

2025-12-18T15:36:03Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Space Research And Continuing Exploration Act (Space RACE Act) aims to create a new organization to sustain and advance U.S. microgravity research (scientific studies conducted in near-weightless conditions in space) after the International Space Station (ISS) is decommissioned. It focuses on transitioning research to newer space platforms, supporting national priorities like security, education, and innovation, while involving government, academia, and private sectors.

Key Provisions

• Establishment of the National Institute for Space Research (Institute):
• The NASA Administrator can set up the Institute no earlier than January 1, 2026, if funding is available. It will be run by a non-federal organization under a NASA contract.
• The Institute will promote research on "next-generation microgravity platforms" (advanced space stations or vehicles for low-gravity experiments), support national security uses, prepare for the end of ISS operations, boost education and workforce training in space science, and ease the shift from the ISS to new platforms.

• Governance Structure:
• Board of Directors: A 12-member board chaired by a NASA employee, including representatives from agencies like the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Department of Commerce, Education, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense. It also includes experts from the National Academy of Sciences and private aerospace. Members serve staggered 2- to 6-year terms, with rules to avoid conflicts of interest (e.g., no financial ties to grant applicants). The board sets budgets, policies, research priorities, and oversees operations but receives no pay from Institute funds.
• Executive Director: Appointed by the board to lead daily operations, with expertise in microgravity or related fields like health or engineering. The director can hire staff via contracts and ensures transparent implementation.

• Activities and Funding:
• Identify and list available next-generation platforms.
• Create guidelines for selecting and using platforms for government and national projects.
• Award competitive grants or cooperative agreements (partnership deals) to eligible groups (public, private, nonprofit, or for-profit entities) for research projects that align with U.S. priorities. Applications must show scientific value and are public unless they involve security or proprietary (trade secret) info. Matching funds may be required.
• Coordinate flight opportunities on platforms, especially for sensitive national interest projects, and partner with agencies for co-funding.
• Gather lessons from the ISS to inform future research.
• Limits: Up to 5% of funds for administrative costs; no interference with existing government agreements; minimize burdens on other space activities.

• Special Rules:
• Expands the definition of "special government employee" to allow service beyond 130 days per year without full federal employee status.
• The Institute cannot regulate private projects unless they receive federal money.

• Termination of ISS Components:
• Within 180 days after ISS research ends, NASA must shut down the ISS National Laboratory and its management agreement.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• New Entity Creation: Introduces the Institute as a public-private hybrid to centralize microgravity research coordination, filling a gap left by the ISS without directly expanding NASA's role.
• Post-ISS Transition: Mandates ending the ISS National Laboratory (established under the 2010 NASA Authorization Act), shifting focus to commercial and next-gen platforms rather than relying solely on government-led efforts.
• Funding and Oversight Flexibility: Allows competitive grants across sectors and interagency partnerships, with board-submitted budgets to Congress starting in fiscal year 2028. It also permits "special government employees" to work longer terms, easing expert involvement.
• Non-Interference Clause: Explicitly protects ongoing government-private partnerships from Institute oversight, promoting a lighter regulatory touch compared to traditional federal programs.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Enhances coordination among NASA and agencies like Defense, Energy, and Health for shared research, potentially streamlining funding and reducing duplication. NASA loses direct control over the ISS Lab but gains a supportive Institute for broader ecosystem management.
• On Citizens and Workforce: Boosts education and training in space-related fields, creating jobs in research, manufacturing, and aerospace. It could lead to innovations in health, materials, and technology with everyday benefits (e.g., better drugs or manufacturing techniques developed in microgravity).
• On International Relations: Supports U.S. leadership in space by preparing for ISS decommissioning (a multinational project involving partners like Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada), potentially encouraging international collaboration on new platforms while prioritizing national security. No direct changes to treaties, but it emphasizes U.S.-led priorities.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: NASA (lead role), Department of Defense (security aspects), National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health (research funding), and others on the board for input and coordination.
• Academic and Educational Institutions: Universities and students eligible for grants and projects, benefiting from workforce development.
• Private Sector: Aerospace companies, nonprofits, and for-profits as grant recipients, platform providers, or partners, gaining opportunities for commercial space research.
• Researchers and Scientists: Direct access to funding and platforms for microgravity experiments.
• Congress: Receives annual budget requests and oversees appropriations.
• General Public: Indirectly through advancements in science, technology, and education that stem from sustained space research.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens public-private partnerships under contract law, with built-in conflict-of-interest safeguards and Freedom of Information Act exceptions for sensitive data. It complies with appropriations requirements, avoiding unauthorized spending, and uses competitive processes to ensure fairness in grant awards.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's powers to fund science and promote general welfare (Article I, Section 8), without infringing on executive branch authority over agencies like NASA. No apparent free speech or due process issues.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (e.g., Senators Cornyn, Hickenlooper) signals broad support for U.S. space competitiveness amid global rivals like China. It promotes innovation without heavy regulation, potentially appealing to free-market advocates, but requires ongoing funding debates in Congress. The Institute's non-federal operation could reduce bureaucracy but raises questions about accountability in public fund use.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

Cosponsors (4)

Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• 2025-11-19: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Space Research And Continuing Exploration Act — issued 2025-11-19 — PDF (17 pages)