S 2351
· 119th Congress
· Science, Technology, Communications
Space Exploration Research Act
Sponsor
Latest action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 369.
Action timeline
Every recorded action on this bill, newest first. Stage badges color-code the legislative path.
Apr 13, 2026
committee
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.
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Apr 13, 2026
other
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 369.
Jul 30, 2025
committee
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Jul 17, 2025
introduced
Introduced in Senate
Jul 17, 2025
introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Text versions
Each stage of the bill — official text published by GPO. Click any format to read on congress.gov / govinfo.
Changelog
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih / is — Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh / rfs — Referred to a committee for review.rh / rs — Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs / pch — Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh / es — Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh / rds — Received by the other chamber.eah / eas — Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath / ats — Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr — Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl — Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp — Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih/is— Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh/rfs— Referred to a committee for review.rh/rs— Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs/pch— Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh/es— Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh/rds— Received by the other chamber.eah/eas— Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath/ats— Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr— Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl— Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp— Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
Line-level diff between text versions of this bill — what actually changed at each legislative stage.
+174
−28
48 unchanged
--- Introduced (Senate)
+++ Reported (Senate)
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
-[S. 2351 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
+[S. 2351 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
+Calendar No. 369
119th CONGRESS
-1st Session
+2d Session
S. 2351
+
+[Report No. 119-117]
To supplement existing lease authorities available to the Administrator
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to support
@@ -21,6 +24,12 @@
and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
+April 13, 2026
+
+Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment
+[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
+in italic]
+
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
@@ -32,15 +41,16 @@
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 ``Space Exploration Research Act''.
-
-SEC. 2. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION SUPPLEMENTAL
-LEASE AUTHORITY.
-
-(a) Supplemental Lease Authority.--
-(1) In general.--The Administrator of the National
+<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Space Exploration Research
+Act''.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED>SEC. 2. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
+SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE AUTHORITY.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED> (a) Supplemental Lease Authority.--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (referred to in this Act
as the ``Administrator'') may, using existing lease authorities
available to the Administrator and on such terms as the
@@ -49,16 +59,102 @@
Administrator to 1 or more entities described in subsection (c)
for the purpose of the construction and operation on such real
property of 1 or more facilities the purposes of which shall
-be--
+be--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (A) to conduct aeronautical and space
+research;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (B) to educate and train individuals for
+careers in the space industry;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (C) to carry out the transfer of
+aeronautical and space technology between the United
+States public and domestic private sectors;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (D) to conduct scientific, engineering,
+medical, or academic activities; and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (E) to conduct any other space-related
+activity.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) Renewal.--The Administrator may renew a lease
+under this subsection for 1 or more additional
+periods.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (b) Administrative, Maintenance, and Instructional
+Support.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the
+Administrator may--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) enter into 1 or more agreements, on such terms
+as the Administrator considers appropriate, with 1 or more
+entities described in subsection (c) to lease back real
+property described in subsection (a), including such real
+property that has been--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (A) leased to a private entity under other
+lease authority available to the Administrator;
+and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (B) subleased to an entity described in
+subsection (c);</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) enter into 1 or more contracts, grant
+agreements, cooperative agreements, or other authorized
+transactions with an entity described in subsection (c) with
+respect to such property; and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (3) provide administrative, maintenance,
+instructional, and other appropriate support, with or without
+reimbursement, to the 1 or more facilities described in
+subsection (a).</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (c) Entities Described.--An entity described in this
+subsection is--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) the State in which the real property described
+in subsection (a) is located;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) a subdivision, agent, or agency of such a
+State;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (3) a corporation or foundation organized
+exclusively for education or scientific purposes that is exempt
+from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
+Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)); and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (4) an institution of higher education (as defined
+in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
+1001)).</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (d) Delegation.--The Administrator may delegate the
+authorities under subsections (a) and (b) to subordinate officers and
+employees of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as the
+Administrator considers appropriate.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (e) Effect of Other Law.--The authority provided by this
+section shall apply--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) regardless of the existing authority used by
+the Administrator to lease the real property described in
+subsection (a); and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) notwithstanding any provision of--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (A) section 1302 of title 40, United
+States Code;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (B) section 20145 of title 51, United
+States Code; or</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (C) section 306121 of title 54, United
+States Code.</DELETED>
+
+SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
+
+This Act may be cited as the ``Space Exploration Research Act''.
+
+SEC. 2. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION SUPPLEMENTAL
+LEASE AUTHORITY.
+
+(a) Supplemental Lease Authority.--
+(1) In general.--The Administrator of the National
+Aeronautics and Space Administration (referred to in this Act
+as the ``Administrator'') may, using existing lease authorities
+available to the Administrator and on such terms as the
+Administrator considers appropriate to protect the interests of
+the United States, lease, for a term not to exceed 50 years,
+real property under the jurisdiction of the Administrator to 1
+or more entities described in subsection (c) for the purpose of
+the construction and operation on such real property of 1 or
+more facilities the purposes of which shall be--
(A) to conduct aeronautical and space research;
(B) to educate and train individuals for careers in
the space industry;
(C) to carry out the transfer of aeronautical and
space technology between the United States public and
domestic private sectors;
-(D) to conduct scientific, engineering, medical, or
-academic activities; and
-(E) to conduct any other space-related activity.
+(D) to conduct space-related and aeronautics-
+related scientific, engineering, medical, or academic
+activities; and
+(E) to conduct any other space-related activity
+relevant to the mission of the National Aeronautics and
+Space Administration.
(2) Renewal.--The Administrator may renew a lease under
this subsection for 1 or more additional periods.
(b) Administrative, Maintenance, and Instructional Support.--
@@ -67,18 +163,16 @@
Administrator considers appropriate, with 1 or more entities
described in subsection (c) to lease back real property
described in subsection (a), including such real property that
-has been--
-(A) leased to a private entity under other lease
-authority available to the Administrator; and
-(B) subleased to an entity described in subsection
-(c);
+has been subleased to a third party by an entity described in
+subsection (c);
(2) enter into 1 or more contracts, grant agreements,
cooperative agreements, or other authorized transactions with
an entity described in subsection (c) with respect to such
property; and
-(3) provide administrative, maintenance, instructional, and
-other appropriate support, with or without reimbursement, to
-the 1 or more facilities described in subsection (a).
+(3) provide administrative, instructional, and other
+appropriate support, with or without reimbursement, to the 1 or
+more entities described in subsection (c) that are a party to
+such a contract, agreement, or transaction.
(c) Entities Described.--An entity described in this subsection
is--
(1) the State in which the real property described in
@@ -99,10 +193,62 @@
shall apply--
(1) regardless of the existing authority used by the
Administrator to lease the real property described in
-subsection (a); and
-(2) notwithstanding any provision of--
+subsection (a) to entities described in subsection (c); and
+(2) notwithstanding--
(A) section 1302 of title 40, United States Code;
-(B) section 20145 of title 51, United States Code;
-or
+(B) subsection (b)(1) and (e)(1) of section 20145
+of title 51, United States Code; or
(C) section 306121 of title 54, United States Code.
-<all>
+(f) Annual Report.--Not later than January 31 each year, the
+Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
+Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and
+Technology of the House of Representatives a report that includes the
+following:
+(1) Mission relevance.--Information that explains the
+importance of each lease and leaseback agreement to the
+accomplishment of 1 or more mission requirements of the
+National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
+(2) Value of arrangements and expenditures of revenues.--
+Information that identifies and quantifies the value of the
+arrangements and expenditures of revenues received under this
+section.
+(3) Availability and use of funds for operating plan.--The
+availability and use of funds received under this section for
+the Administration's operating plan.
+(4) Annual and cumulative number of leases.--The annual and
+cumulative number of leases entered into under this section, by
+National Aeronautics and Space Administration center and
+facility.
+(5) Estimated cost savings.--For each active lease
+agreement under this section, the estimated cost savings to the
+National Aeronautics and Space Administration resulting from
+reduced maintenance, operating, and associated costs in the
+previous fiscal year.
+(6) Other quantifiable benefits.--Other quantifiable
+benefits, including additional cost savings not included under
+paragraph (4), to the National Aeronautics and Space
+Administration resulting from the use of leases under this
+section.
+Calendar No. 369
+
+119th CONGRESS
+
+2d Session
+
+S. 2351
+
+[Report No. 119-117]
+
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+A BILL
+
+To supplement existing lease authorities available to the Administrator
+of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to support
+research, education, and training, and for other purposes.
+
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+April 13, 2026
+
+Reported with an amendment
Cosponsors (5)
Members who signed on to support this bill.