Review - S 5276 Introduced – SRM Industrial Base

Last month, Sen Cornyn (R,TX) introduced S 5276, the Solid Propulsion Enhancement and Advancement for Readiness (SPEAR) Act of 2024. The bill would require DOD to submit to Congress a “roadmap for the future desired state for the solid rocket motor (SRM) industrial base.” No new funding would be authorized by this legislation.

Moving Forward

While Cornyn is not a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration, one of his two cosponsors {Wicker (R,MS)} is the Ranking Member of the Committee. This means that there may be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee. I see nothing in the proposed legislation that would engender any organized opposition. I suspect that the bill would receive significant bipartisan support, but this late in the session, that will probably not be sufficient to see the bill considered before the end of the year.

 

For more information about the provisions of this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/s-5276-introduced - subscription required.

NOTE: This bill is being covered here as part of the ‘Space Geek’ expansion of the scope of this blog. I am still working on determining how extensive that expansion will be.

Bills Introduced – 9-26-24

Yesterday, with both the House and Senate leaving Washington for electioneering, there were 260 bills introduced. Two of those bills may receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 9851 To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to establish a Hydrogen Technologies for Heavy Industry Demonstration Program, and for other purposes. Sorensen, Eric [Rep.-D-IL-17]

S 5276 A bill to require a roadmap for the future desired state for the solid rocket motor (SRM) industrial base, and for other purposes. Cornyn, John [Sen.-R-TX] 

I will be watching HR 9851 for language and definitions that would specifically include chemical safety requirements in the program.

I will be watching S 5276 as part of my expanding ‘space geek’ coverage. I will be watching for language and definitions that would include support for commercial space operations in the purview of the legislation.