H.R.5063: ASTEROIDS Act was introduced on July 10, 2014 by Rep. Bill Posey:

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 5063 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5063

To promote the development of a commercial asteroid resources industry
for outer space in the United States and to increase the exploration
and utilization of asteroid resources in outer space.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 10, 2014

Mr. Posey (for himself and Mr. Kilmer) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To promote the development of a commercial asteroid resources industry
for outer space in the United States and to increase the exploration
and utilization of asteroid resources in outer space.

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 “American Space Technology for
Exploring Resource Opportunities In Deep Space Act” or the “ASTEROIDS
Act”.

SEC. 2. TITLE 51 AMENDMENT.

(a) In General.–Subtitle V of title 51, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:

“CHAPTER 513–ASTEROID RESOURCE EXPLORATION AND UTILIZATION

“Sec.
“51301. Commercialization of asteroid resource exploration and
utilization in outer space.
“51302. Legal framework.
“51303. Definitions.
“Sec. 51301. Commercialization of asteroid resource exploration and
utilization in outer space
“The President, through the Administration, the Federal Aviation
Administration, and other appropriate Federal agencies, shall–
“(1) facilitate the commercial exploration and utilization
of asteroid resources to meet national needs;
“(2) discourage government barriers to the development of
economically viable, safe, and stable industries for the
exploration and utilization of asteroid resources in outer
space in manners consistent with the existing international
obligations of the United States;
“(3) promote the right of United States commercial
entities to explore and utilize resources from asteroids in
outer space, in accordance with the existing international
obligations of the United States, free from harmful
interference, and to transfer or sell such resources; and
“(4) develop the frameworks necessary to meet the
international obligations of the United States.
“Sec. 51302. Legal framework
“(a) Property Rights.–Any resources obtained in outer space from
an asteroid are the property of the entity that obtained such
resources, which shall be entitled to all property rights thereto,
consistent with applicable provisions of Federal law.
“(b) Freedom From Harmful Interference.–As between any entities
over which the United States can exercise jurisdiction, any assertion
of superior right to execute specific commercial asteroid resource
utilization activities in outer space shall prevail if it is found to
be first in time, derived upon a reasonable basis, and in accordance
with all existing international obligations of the United States.
“(c) Safety of Operations.–A United States commercial asteroid
resource utilization entity shall avoid harmful interference to other
spacecraft.
“(d) Relief From Harmful Interference.–A United States commercial
asteroid resource utilization entity may bring an action for
appropriate legal or equitable relief, or both, under this chapter for
any action, by another private entity, compromising the right to
conduct its operations free of harmful interference.
“(e) Exclusive Jurisdiction.–The district courts of the United
States shall have exclusive jurisdiction of an action under this
chapter without regard to the amount in controversy.
“Sec. 51303. Definitions
“For the purposes of this chapter:
“(1) State.–The term `State’ means any of the several
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other
commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
“(2) United states commercial asteroid resource
utilization entity.–The term `United States commercial
asteroid resource utilization entity’ means a person or company
providing asteroid exploration or utilization services, the
control of which is held by persons other than a Federal,
State, local, or foreign government, that is–
“(A) duly organized under the laws of a State;
“(B) subject to the subject matter and personal
jurisdiction of the courts of the United States; or
“(C) a foreign entity that has voluntarily
submitted to the subject matter and personal
jurisdiction of the courts of the United States.”.
(b) Clerical Amendment.–The table of chapters for title 51, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end of the items for subtitle
V the following:

“513. Asteroid resource exploration and utilization…….. 51301”.

Prof. Dr. Gennady P. Zhukov has passed away. The IISL website has a full obituary.

Prof. Dr Gennady P. Zhukov (1924-2014)
23 July 2014

The International Institute of Space Law is sad to note the passing of Prof. Dr Gennady P. Zhukov.

Prof. Zhukov served as a Vice President of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) for 15 years, finally becoming an Honorary Director of the Institute. He was awarded with a gold medal and a diploma from the International Astronautical Federation and the IISL respectively for his contributions to the scientific development of International space law issues.

In April 2014 his 90th birthday was celebrated in Moscow with a conference organised by the People’s Friendship University.

H.R. 5036: Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014 was introduced on July 10, 2014 by Rep. Howard Coble:

H.R.5036 — Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014 (Introduced in House – IH)

HR 5036 IH

113th CONGRESS
2d Session

H. R. 5036
To amend title 17, United States Code, to extend expiring provisions of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 9, 2014

Mr. COBLE (for himself and Mr. GOODLATTE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL
To amend title 17, United States Code, to extend expiring provisions of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010.

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 `Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act of 2014′.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION.

Chapter 1 of title 17, United States Code, is amended–
(1) in section 111(d)(3)–
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking `clause’ and inserting `paragraph’; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking `clause’ and inserting `paragraph’; and
(2) in section 119–
(A) in subsection (c)(1)(E), by striking `2014′ and inserting `2019′; and
(B) in subsection (e), by striking `2014′ and inserting `2019′.
SEC. 3. TERMINATION OF LICENSE.

(a) In General- Section 119 of title 17, United States Code, as amended in section 2, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(h) Termination of License- This section shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2019.’.
(b) Conforming Amendment- Section 107(a) of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (17 U.S.C. 119 note) is repealed.

Source – Space Daily:

Russia, China Ready to Cooperate in Space, Explore Mars
by Staff Writers
Harbin, China (RIA Novosti) Jul 01, 2014

Dmitry Rogozin takes part in first Russian-Chinese Expo in Harbin. Image courtesy RIA Novosti.
Russia is ready to work with China to explore the Moon and Mars, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Monday. “If we talk about manned space flights and exploration of outer space, as well as joint exploration of the solar system, primarily it is the Moon and Mars, we are ready to go forth with our Chinese friends, hand in hand,” Rogozin said during a roundtable held within the framework of The First Russia-China Expo.

Deputy Prime Minister reminded that Russia is currently pursuing a comprehensive reform of the space industry, trying to catch up with technological progress. . . . [Full Story]

Source – Space Daily:

Russia to consider space cooperation bill with Cuba
by Staff Writers
Moscow (Voice of Russia) Jun 23, 2014

File image.
The Russian government has introduced a bill that stipulates a ratification of an agreement signed between Russia and Cuba in the sphere of space investigations, the statement on the government’s website says.

“This is a framework agreement that defines the necessary principles, regulations and conditions for the development of bilateral relations in space domain; it also includes the issues of intellectual property security and of information exchange,” the statement says. . . . [Full Story]

Source – NASA:

June 19, 2014
RELEASE M14-108
NASA Invites Public Comment on Mars 2020 Draft Environmental Impact Statement
NASA is requesting the public and interested organizations to review and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the agency’s proposed Mars 2020 mission. The comment period runs through July 21.
During the comment period, NASA will host an online public meeting from 1-3 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 26, at:
https://ac.arc.nasa.gov/mars2020
The meeting site will be accessible to participants at 12:45 p.m. EDT. The meeting will include briefings about the proposed mission, its power source options, and the findings of the DEIS. A question-and-answer session and an open period for the public to submit live written comments will follow. Advance registration for the meeting is not required.
The DEIS addresses the potential environmental impacts associated with carrying out the Mars 2020 mission, a continuation of NASA’s in-depth exploration of the planet. The mission would include a mobile science rover based closely on the design of the Curiosity rover, which was launched in November 2011 and is operating successfully on Mars.
The mission is planned to launch in July or August 2020 from Florida on an expendable launch vehicle.
NASA will consider all received comments in the development of its Mars 2020 Final Environmental Impact Statement and comments received, and responses to these comments, will be included in the final document.
The DEIS, background material on the proposed mission, and instructions on how to submit comments on the DEIS are available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/agency/nepa/mars2020eis
After the conclusion of the virtual public meeting, an on-demand replay of the event also will be available at the above link.
Additional information on NASA’s National Environmental Policy Act process and the proposed Mars 2020 mission can be found at:
http://www.nasa.gov/agency/nepa/
and
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mars2020/
-end-

Source – SpaceRef:

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

Senate Amendment to H.R. 4660 – Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (Sen. Mikulski, D-MD)

(Excerpt)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Commercial Crew Program. The Administration appreciates the Committee’s support for the Commercial Crew program, but has concerns about language that would seek to apply accounting requirements unsuitable for a firm, fixed-price acquisition, likely increasing the program’s cost and potentially delaying its schedule.

Space Technology Program. The Administration is concerned that the bill does not provide the FY 2015 Budget request for the Space Technology program. Space Technology is needed to reduce the cost and increase the long-term capability of NASA, other Government, and commercial space activities.

Future Science Missions. The Administration appreciates the Committee’s support for science missions, but is concerned about prematurely specifying elements of future missions while the missions are in a very early state of development. In particular, the Administration believes the Committee’s proposed approach to a follow-on Landsat mission is not feasible within the bill’s proposed cost cap of $650 million, and that it is premature to designate the Space Launch System as the launch vehicle for a Europa mission before the costs and benefits of such a choice are understood.