House, Senate Negotiators Working To Push Suborbital Bill

By Brian Berger; space.com: WASHINGTON — House and Senate negotiators still expect to resolve their differences over a bill that would establish regulations for suborbital launch firms that plan to carry paying passengers into space. But with U.S. lawmakers slated to leave town the first week of October, proponents say time is running out to enact the legislation this year.

James Muncy, an aerospace consultant lobbying for the bill, said the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act (H.R. 3752) still has a chance to become law this year, provided the Senate Commerce Committee moves on it in the days ahead. He said the House and Senate are pre-conferencing the bill now so that it can sail through to final passage without taking up precious floor time when so little remains before Congress adjourns for the year.

Muncy said the legislation would help suborbital launch firms, some of which are vying for the $10 million Ansari X-Prize, get their businesses off the ground.

“The legislation is the difference between winning a prize and being able to operate for revenue and build a real industry,” said Muncy.
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