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Commercial Space Launch Act

Public Law 98-575 · H.R. 3942 · 98th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 30, 1984 · Science, Technology, Communications

Sponsor: Rep. Daniel Akaka (D-HI-2)

Cosponsors (49): Rep. Don Fuqua,

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Commercial Space Launch Act - Prohibits persons from launching a launch vehicle or operating a launch site within the United States (or, in the case of U.S. citizens, from outside the United States and outside the territory of a foreign nation) unless they are properly licensed; and (2) in the case of a license holder, launching a payload (an object placed in space) unless such payload complies with all requirements of Federal law.

Permits the Secretary of Transportation to issue or transfer such licenses to persons who meet the requirements of this Act. Sets forth certain conditions and procedures for licensing.

Permits the Secretary to suspend or revoke such licenses if it is found that the licensee has substantially failed to comply with specified requirements. Permits the Secretary to modify a license if such modification will result in compliance with this Act.

Permits the Secretary to terminate, prohibit, or suspend immediately any licensed operations if it is determined that such operations are detrimental to the public health and safety, safety of property, or the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. Provides for administrative and judicial review of such determinations.

Permits Federal officials to monitor the activities of licensees. Permits the use of Government property by such licensees and requires them to have liability insurance.

Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this Act.

Directs the Secretary to consult with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State on matters affecting national security and foreign policy, respectively.

Requires the Secretary, not later than the last day of each fiscal year ending after the date of enactment of this Act and before October 1, 1989, to submit to specified congressional committees a report describing activities undertaken pursuant to this Act and recommendations for legislation regarding commercial activities.

Requires the Secretary, not later than July 1, 1985, to submit to specified congressional committees a report which identifies Federal statutes, treaties, regulations, and policies which may have an adverse effect on commercial launches.

Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for FY 1985.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.

  1. Oct 30, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-575.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 18, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 9, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
  5. FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. Oct 3, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  7. Oct 2, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  8. Jun 7, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  9. Jun 5, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  10. May 31, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  11. May 23, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  12. Apr 11, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Space Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  13. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Space Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  14. Mar 29, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Space Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  15. Sep 23, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Space Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  16. Sep 21, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  17. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.