Review - HR 108 Introduced – Space Research Innovation Act

Earlier this month Rep Biggs (R,AZ) introduced HR 108, the Space Research Innovation Act. The bill would require NASA to establish a university-affiliated research center to fund analyses and engineering support related to cis-lunar and deep-space missions and interplanetary research. No new funding would be authorized by this legislation.

The text of this bill is identical to that of HR 120 that was introduced by Biggs in January of 2023. No action was taken on that bill in the 118^th Congress.

Moving Forward

Biggs is not a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there is little chance that he would have the influence necessary to see the bill considered in Committee. Biggs has additional problems getting legislation passed. While he is a prolific crafter of bills (138 bills so far this session and 1,102 bills in the 118^th), his reputation as a ‘bomb thrower’ and inability to compromise makes it difficult for him to form the necessary coalitions to see bills through the legislative process.

 

For more details about the proposed legislation, including a commentary about doing more with less funding, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-108-introduced - subscription required.

Bills Introduced – 1-3-24

Friday, under the shadow of the election of the Speaker of the House, there were 233 bills introduced in the House and Senate. Two of those bills will receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 108 To allow the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to establish a research center for deep space and interplanetary research, and for other purposes. Biggs, Andy [Rep.-R-AZ-5]

HR 128 To require the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office of the Department of Homeland Security to treat illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, and for other purposes. Boebert, Lauren [Rep.-R-CO-4] 

NOTE 1: Eighty of the 214 bills introduced in the House were introduced by Rep Biggs (R, AZ). This is not really surprising, because he introduced 720 bills in the 118^th Congress. Only five of those bills passed in the House, and one ended up being vetoed by President Biden (the House was unable to override that veto). Biggs is a prolific crafter of partisan legislation, but lacks the influence to see these bills become law.

NOTE 2: I am going to try to track space related bills in earnest this session under my #SpaceGeek tag.