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This bill would let NASA use government-owned or leased passenger vehicles, aircraft, boats, or similar transportation to help move certain astronauts and space flight participants between their homes and other locations when it is needed for official reasons. The main goal is to support people after a space mission, especially when they need medical checks, monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment before they are cleared to drive a car again. The NASA Administrator could also keep up, operate, and repair the vehicles needed for this transportation. In some cases, the rider would have to pay the government back for the trip, and NASA would have to write rules to carry out the new authority.
- The transportation would be allowed only for “official purposes,” mostly tied to post-mission care and recovery.
- NASA would need written approval from the Chief of the Astronaut Office before using this kind of transportation for post-mission travel.
- International partner astronauts and space flight participants who are not federal employees would have to reimburse the Treasury for the cost of the transportation.
- The bill also lets NASA spend money on this transportation even though a general law limits government use of passenger vehicles.
Official Summaries
Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act
This bill permits the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use government-owned passenger vehicles to transport astronauts and other space flight participants to and from post-mission medical research and treatment activities. (After returning to earth, astronauts generally undergo a post-mission medical recovery program and may be prohibited from driving motor vehicles for varying periods of time.)
Under the bill, transportation may be provided to necessary post-mission activities including medical research and the monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of an astronaut or space flight participant before they receive post-mission clearance to operate a motor vehicle. Only astronauts employed by the U.S. government, certain international partner astronauts, and other individuals carried in launch or reentry vehicles are eligible for transportation.
The bill also permits NASA to maintain, operate, and repair one or more passenger vehicles, including motor vehicles, aircraft, and other means of transportation, for the purpose of providing such post-mission transportation.
The cost of transporting international partner astronauts and space flight participants not employed by the U.S. government must be reimbursed to the Department of the Treasury.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 582 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 193
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 582
[Report No. 119-82]
To provide for the authorized use of Federal vehicle transportation by
certain astronauts.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 13, 2025
Mr. Cruz (for himself and Mr. Peters) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
October 20, 2025
Reported by Mr. Cruz, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the authorized use of Federal vehicle transportation by
certain astronauts.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Astronaut Ground Travel Support
Act''.
SEC. 2. PASSENGER CARRIER USE FOR ASTRONAUT TRANSPORTATION.
(a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 201 of title 51, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 20150. Passenger carrier use for astronaut transportation
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Government astronaut; international partner
astronaut; space flight participant; space support vehicle.--
The terms `government astronaut', `international partner
astronaut', `space flight participant', and `space support
vehicle' have the meanings given such terms in section 50902.
``(2) Mission.--The term `mission' means an assignment to a
space support vehicle of one or more--
``(A) government astronauts in the course of their
employment; or
``(B) space flight participants.
``(3) Official purpose.--With respect to transportation,
the term `official purpose' means transportation necessary for
post-mission activities, including medical research,
monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of a government astronaut
or space flight participant before receiving post-mission
medical clearance to operate a motor vehicle.
``(4) Passenger carrier.--The term `passenger carrier'
means a passenger motor vehicle, aircraft, boat, vessel, or
other similar means of transportation that is owned or leased
by the United States Government.
``(b) Authority.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator may authorize the use
of a passenger carrier to transport a government astronaut or
space flight participant between the residence of the
individual and various locations if--
``(A) such transportation is provided for an
official purpose; and
``(B) the Chief of the Astronaut Office has
approved, in writing, post-mission transportation of
government astronauts and space flight participants
under this section.
``(2) Maintenance, operation, and repair.--The
Administrator may maintain, operate, and repair one or more
passenger carriers for the purpose of providing transportation
pursuant to the authority provided in paragraph (1).
``(c) Reimbursement.--Transportation under subsection (b)(1) of an
international partner astronaut or a space flight participant who is
not an employee of the United States Government shall be subject to
reimbursement to the Treasury.
``(d) Regulations.--The Administrator shall promulgate such
regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.
``(e) Applicability of Section 1344 of Title 31.--In carrying out
subsection (b), the Administrator may expend funds available to the
Administration, by appropriation or otherwise, notwithstanding section
1344(a) of title 31.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 201 of
title 51, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 20149 the following:
``20150. Passenger carrier use for astronaut transportation.''.
Calendar No. 193
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 582
[Report No. 119-82]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the authorized use of Federal vehicle transportation by
certain astronauts.
_______________________________________________________________________
October 20, 2025
Reported without amendment