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To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study, and publish guidance, on the conversion of rural abandoned factories, space centers, and military bases into space-related manufacturing facilities and space complexes, and for other purposes.
Summary
The RAVES Reporting Act requires the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the State Department and Small Business Administration, to conduct a comprehensive study and publish guidance on converting abandoned factories, space centers, and military bases in rural areas into space-related manufacturing facilities and space complexes. The study must address conversion costs, workforce development needs including technical skills and education, environmental concerns, potential funding sources, and the impact on local rural economies. The study shall also examine collaboration opportunities with community colleges, the effects of artificial intelligence on workforce development, national security implications, and the current state of the aerospace industry in rural areas. The Secretary must submit the completed study and guidance to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment. The bill defines "rural area" as any location outside cities with populations greater than 50,000 and their adjacent urbanized areas.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (D-GA)
1 cosponsor
- Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1] (R-MI)
Actions (2)
- Jun 3, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. · house
- Jun 3, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 3, 2025
Mr. David Scott of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study, and publish guidance, on the conversion of rural abandoned factories, space centers, and military bases into space-related manufacturing facilities and space complexes, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Rural American Vitalization in Extraterrestrial Space Reporting Act of 2025” or the “RAVES Reporting Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. STUDY AND GUIDANCE ON CONVERSION OF RURAL, ABANDONED FACTORIES INTO SPACE-RELATED MANUFACTURING FACILITIES.
(a) Study.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, and in consultation with the Office of Space Affairs of the Department of State and the Small Business Development Center of the Small Business Administration, shall conduct a study, and publish guidance, on the conversion of abandoned factories, space centers, and military bases in rural areas into space- related manufacturing facilities and space complexes.
(b) Elements.—The study and guidance required under subsection (a) shall include information relating to the following:
(1) On average and by State, the cost of conversions of abandoned factories, and space centers, and abandoned military bases in rural areas into space-related manufacturing facilities and space complexes.
(2) Greatest needs for terrestrial space manufacturing.
(3) Environmental and sustainability concerns relating to such conversions.
(4) Impact on local economies of region in which such conversions are carried out.
(5) Technical skills and relevant education needed for construction workers, engineers, scientists, and other elements of the workforce relating to such conversions, as well as for the operation of such facilities.
(6) Potential for collaboration with local community colleges relating to such conversions.
(7) Effects of artificial intelligence on workforce development relating to such conversions.
(8) The number of factories and military bases in rural areas abandoned as of 2025.
(9) Potential for development within rural communities relating to such conversions.
(10) Viable sources of potential funding or incentives for private sector entities for such conversions.
(11) Potential national security implications relating to such conversions, in particular with regard to United States adversaries and the Space Command.
(12) An estimate of the time required to complete such conversions.
(13) Input from private and public entities that have collaborated or currently collaborate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) regarding space manufacturing.
(14) An analysis undertaken in consultation with outside experts in the aerospace field on the current state of the aerospace industry in rural areas of the United States, including a description of best practices relating to such conversions.
(c) Submission to Congress.—The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress the study and guidance required under subsection (a).
(d) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) Abandoned.—The term “abandoned” means out of use or underutilized for at least five years, with no apparent plans to restart production or repurpose for other uses.
(2) Factory.—The term “factory” means an industrial facility for manufacturing goods or parts.
(3) Rural area.—The term “rural area”, with respect to an abandoned factory, space center, or military base, means such a factory, center, or base, as the case may be, that is located in any area other than—
(A) a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants; or
(B) any urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a city or town described in subparagraph (A).
(4) Space complex.—The term “space complex” means a group of buildings designed for the purpose of building spacecraft, instruments, or technologies to study space, or testing or launching such devices. <all>
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