US Federal Senate Bill SB582

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 10/29/25
• Introduced: 2/13/25
• Refer: 2/13/25
• Report Pass: 3/12/25

Caption

Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act

Summary

The Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act would authorize NASA to use federally owned or leased passenger carriers to transport certain astronauts and space flight participants between their residences and other locations when the travel serves an official post-mission purpose. The bill defines “official purpose” to include post-flight medical research, monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment before an astronaut or participant has received medical clearance to drive a motor vehicle. It also allows the NASA Administrator to maintain, operate, and repair the vehicles used for this purpose. The bill applies to government astronauts, international partner astronauts, and space flight participants, with reimbursement required to the Treasury for transportation provided to non-federal astronauts or participants who are not U.S. government employees. It directs NASA to issue implementing regulations and creates an express exception to the general federal restriction on using appropriated funds for passenger carrier transportation under 31 U.S.C. 1344, allowing NASA to spend available funds for this purpose.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would add a new section 20150 to title 51 of the U.S. Code and amend the title 51 table of contents accordingly. It would expand NASA’s statutory authority to provide and support ground transportation for astronauts after missions, including use of government vehicles and related maintenance, operation, and repair. The measure would also require reimbursement for certain non-federal riders and would override the usual federal passenger-carrier funding restriction for this narrow NASA purpose.

Sentiment

The available legislative record suggests a generally favorable and noncontroversial reception. The bill was reported by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee without amendment, and there are no recorded votes or committee transcript snippets indicating opposition or debate. The absence of amendments or recorded dissent suggests broad agreement that the measure addresses a practical post-mission transportation need for astronauts.

Contention

No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided materials. The only issues that could potentially draw scrutiny are the use of federal vehicles and funds for astronaut transportation, the exception to the normal passenger-carrier funding rule, and the reimbursement requirement for international partner astronauts and space flight participants who are not federal employees. However, the bill’s text and procedural history show no recorded disagreement over these provisions.