Bill > S980

This bill establishes a pilot program through the Department of Transportation to provide financial grants to operators of launch and reentry sites to improve transportation infrastructure and facilities. Operators can receive grants based on the number of launch and reentry operations they conduct, with $250,000 per licensed launch/reentry operation and $100,000 per permitted operation, up to a maximum of $2.5 million annually. The program incentivizes infrastructure improvements by offering supplemental matching grants if state, local, or private entities contribute additional funds - specifically, a 25% supplemental grant for a dollar-for-dollar match and a 50% supplemental grant for a 2:1 match. Eligible projects must be located at or near launch sites, support transportation safety, and be generally available. The bill defines "covered transportation activities" broadly to include movement of people or property via vehicles, vessels, aircraft, railways, and pipelines. The pilot program will run from fiscal year 2026 to October 1, 2030, with a total annual funding cap of $20 million, and grants will be drawn from existing transportation infrastructure funds. The goal is to support and improve transportation infrastructure at spaceports across the United States.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/980/all-info