Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
The bill authorizes the NASA Administrator to establish a university-affiliated research center focused on cis-lunar, deep-space, and interplanetary research. It directs NASA to fund analyses and engineering support, set accountability standards, and create policies for participant selection, awards, and required technical capabilities.
Transparency and competitive procurement versus flexibility for sole-source awards
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill establishes a clear high-level authorization for NASA to create a university-affiliated research center and prescribes several areas for internal policy development, but it provides limited operational detail.
The bill authorizes the NASA Administrator to establish a university-affiliated research center focused on cis-lunar, deep-space, and interplanetary research.
It directs NASA to fund analyses and engineering support, set accountability standards, and create policies for participant selection, awards, and required technical capabilities.
Eligible participants include institutions of higher education, federally funded research center operators, and nonprofit research institutions.
Low-controversy, narrowly scoped administrative authorization with no direct spending mandate increases chances, though lack of appropriation language leaves implementation dependent on later funding actions.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill establishes a clear high-level authorization for NASA to create a university-affiliated research center and prescribes several areas for internal policy development, but it provides limited operational detail.
Transparency and competitive procurement versus flexibility for sole-source awards
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Transparency and competitive procurement versus flexibility for sole-source awards
Likely broadly favorable because the bill expands public-university research capacity for space science and encourages public-private partnerships.
Concerns would focus on transparency, equitable access, and preventing privatization of publicly funded research.
The use of cooperative agreements and clear competitive award rules would be important to secure support.
Generally supportive as a targeted, technical enabling bill that strengthens NASA's research infrastructure while preserving flexibility.
Will want clearer fiscal treatment, oversight rules, and competitive procurement safeguards.
Sees practical value if implemented transparently and with cost discipline.
Mixed but cautiously receptive: supports technological and national-capability benefits of a targeted research center.
Worries center on expanding federal footprint, potential subsidies to favored universities, and unclear spending authority.
Support likely if spending is limited and procurement remains market-oriented.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Low-controversy, narrowly scoped administrative authorization with no direct spending mandate increases chances, though lack of appropriation language leaves implementation dependent on later funding actions.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Transparency and competitive procurement versus flexibility for sole-source awards
Low-controversy, narrowly scoped administrative authorization with no direct spending mandate increases chances, though lack of appropriati…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill establishes a clear high-level authorization for NASA to create a university-affiliated research center and prescribes several areas for internal policy development,…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.