Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act

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Latest Action

Oct 29, 2025

Star Print ordered on report 119-82.

Summaries (1)

Introduced in Senate - Feb 13, 2025 00

Astronaut Ground Travel Support ActThis 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.

Actions (7)

Star Print ordered on report 119-82.

Type: Floor | Source: Senate

Oct 29, 2025

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 193.

Type: Calendars | Source: Senate

Oct 20, 2025

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-82.

Type: Committee | Source: Senate

Oct 20, 2025

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-82.

Type: Committee | Source: Library of Congress | Code: 14000

Oct 20, 2025

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Type: Committee | Source: Senate

Mar 12, 2025

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Type: IntroReferral | Source: Senate

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Type: IntroReferral | Source: Library of Congress | Code: 10000

Feb 13, 2025

Subjects (4)

Commuting Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Science, Technology, Communications (Policy Area) Space flight and exploration

Cosponsors (1)

Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

(D-MI)
Feb 13, 2025

Text Versions (2)

Reported to Senate

Oct 20, 2025

PDF ↗ XML ↗

Introduced in Senate

Feb 13, 2025

PDF ↗ XML ↗

Full Bill Text

Length: 4,516 characters Version: Reported to Senate Version Date: Oct 20, 2025 Last Updated: Nov 14, 2025 6:03 AM

[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.

This Act may be cited as the ``Astronaut Ground Travel Support
Act''.

SEC. 2.

(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.

``

(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.

subsection

(b) , the Administrator may expend funds available to the
Administration, by appropriation or otherwise, notwithstanding

section 1344 (a) of title 31.

(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.

``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

[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

View original source ↗

119-s582