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S. 2351, the Space Exploration Research Act, would expand NASA's authority to lease property it manages to support space exploration activities. If enacted, the bill would allow the NASA Administrator to lease federal property for periods up to 99 years to various entities, including private companies, universities, and research institutions. These leases would support activities such as conducting aeronautical and space research, educating and training workers for careers in the space industry, transferring aerospace technology between public and private sectors, and conducting scientific and engineering activities related to space.
The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote in the Senate. The leasing authority would operate independently of existing federal property management laws, giving NASA greater flexibility in managing its facilities. This approach aims to strengthen partnerships between NASA, private industry, and educational institutions to advance space exploration research and workforce development. The bill would not require presidential signature to become law if passed by both chambers of Congress.
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Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025 · 14:00
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, chaired by Senator Ted Cruz, convened a business meeting on July 30, 2025, to consider four pieces of legislation and several nominations. S.1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act, limits the use of facial recognition or matching technology in airports for passenger screening and restricts the Transportation Security Administration's use of the technology to performing passenger identity verification at airport screening locations. The TSA must notify passengers prior to each use of the technology and receive affirmative express consent, and if a passenger opts out, the TSA must perform identity verification using an approved identification document without collecting biometric information. However, the committee pulled S.1691 from consideration at its business meeting. S.2314, the SHARKED Act, would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a task force to identify strategies to reduce shark depredation—the loss or damage of hooked fish to sharks before an angler can reel them in. S.2318, the Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act, would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to update its strategic plan to guide the Manufacturing USA program every four years to align that report with the release of the National Science and Technology Council's recurring report on advanced manufacturing. S.2351, the Space Exploration Research Act, aims to promote aeronautical and space research, educate a 21st century space workforce, and enhance U.S. commercial competitiveness in the space and aerospace industries by authorizing the Administrator of NASA to lease and lease-back certain property to alleviate roadblocks for the development and use of property adjacent to NASA facilities. The committee approved three bills and important nominations within the Departments of Commerce and Transportation. The hearing also included consideration of multiple nominations for positions in the Commerce and Transportation departments. A business meeting does not guarantee that bills will advance to the full Senate for a vote.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-117.
Apr 13, 2026
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-117.
Apr 13, 2026
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025 · 14:00
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, chaired by Senator Ted Cruz, convened a business meeting on July 30, 2025, to consider four pieces of legislation and several nominations. S.1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act, limits the use of facial recognition or matching technology in airports for passenger screening and restricts the Transportation Security Administration's use of the technology to performing passenger identity verification at airport screening locations. The TSA must notify passengers prior to each use of the technology and receive affirmative express consent, and if a passenger opts out, the TSA must perform identity verification using an approved identification document without collecting biometric information. However, the committee pulled S.1691 from consideration at its business meeting. S.2314, the SHARKED Act, would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a task force to identify strategies to reduce shark depredation—the loss or damage of hooked fish to sharks before an angler can reel them in. S.2318, the Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act, would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to update its strategic plan to guide the Manufacturing USA program every four years to align that report with the release of the National Science and Technology Council's recurring report on advanced manufacturing. S.2351, the Space Exploration Research Act, aims to promote aeronautical and space research, educate a 21st century space workforce, and enhance U.S. commercial competitiveness in the space and aerospace industries by authorizing the Administrator of NASA to lease and lease-back certain property to alleviate roadblocks for the development and use of property adjacent to NASA facilities. The committee approved three bills and important nominations within the Departments of Commerce and Transportation. The hearing also included consideration of multiple nominations for positions in the Commerce and Transportation departments. A business meeting does not guarantee that bills will advance to the full Senate for a vote.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-117.
Apr 13, 2026
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-117.
Apr 13, 2026
Congress
119th Congress
Introduced
Jul 17, 2025
No CBO cost estimate has been published for this bill.
