H.R.5063: ASTEROIDS Act
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. 5063To 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”.