Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX), Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Space & Aeronautics, introduced the Space Commerce Free Enterprise Act today.

The legislation enables critical innovations in space operations, particularly in the area of remote sensing. Remote sensing is the imaging of Earth and its features from space.

The growing remote sensing industry has driven modernization in everything from farming to national security and from energy production to humanitarian assistance.

“The American Space Commerce Free Enterprise Act is fundamentally about American competitiveness and security,” Babin said. “The remote sensing industry in America is constrained by complex regulations and decades-old legislation. Our country is losing commercial space entrepreneurs, industry jobs, and innovative technology because of our slow, uncertain, and difficult regulatory process.”

In addition to strengthening remote sensing regulations, the bill enhances U.S. compliance with international obligations, improves national security, and removes regulatory barriers facing new and innovative space companies. The American Space Commerce Free Enterprise Act is identical to bipartisan legislation that passed the House by voice vote without opposition last year and enjoyed widespread support from stakeholder groups. Letters in support of last year’s legislation are available here.