S 582 — Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act

Summary

This bill authorizes NASA to provide federal ground transportation to government astronauts and space flight participants for post-mission activities, including medical research and treatment before they receive medical clearance to operate vehicles. Transportation can be provided via government-owned or leased vehicles, aircraft, boats, or similar means, subject to written approval by the Chief of the Astronaut Office. NASA may maintain, operate, and repair these passenger carriers for this purpose. International partner astronauts and non-government space flight participants must reimburse the federal government for their transportation costs.

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)

Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX)

1 cosponsor

Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI)

Money behind the sponsor

Top reported contributors to Ted Cruz’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.

NULL $4,424,745
ENTREPRENEUR $458,096
RDV CORPORATION $39,600
AMERICAN AIRLINES $29,632
BLACKSTONE $27,400

Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Ted Cruz → · Outside spending →

Actions (6)

Oct 29, 2025 Star Print ordered on report 119-82. · senate
Oct 20, 2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 193. · senate
Oct 20, 2025 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-82. · senate
Mar 12, 2025 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. · senate
Feb 13, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. · senate
Feb 13, 2025 Introduced in Senate

Related bills (1)

Similar bills (6)

Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.

Full text

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 13, 2025

Mr. Cruz (for himself and Mr. Peters) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

October 20, 2025

Reported by Mr. Cruz, without amendment

A BILL

To provide for the authorized use of Federal vehicle transportation by certain astronauts.

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 “Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act”.

SEC. 2. PASSENGER CARRIER USE FOR ASTRONAUT TRANSPORTATION.

(a) In General.—Subchapter III of chapter 201 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: “Sec. 20150. Passenger carrier use for astronaut transportation

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Government astronaut; international partner astronaut; space flight participant; space support vehicle.— The terms ‘government astronaut’, ‘international partner astronaut’, ‘space flight participant’, and ‘space support vehicle’ have the meanings given such terms in section 50902.

“(2) Mission.—The term ‘mission’ means an assignment to a space support vehicle of one or more—

“(A) government astronauts in the course of their employment; or

“(B) space flight participants.

“(3) Official purpose.—With respect to transportation, the term ‘official purpose’ means transportation necessary for post-mission activities, including medical research, monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of a government astronaut or space flight participant before receiving post-mission medical clearance to operate a motor vehicle.

“(4) Passenger carrier.—The term ‘passenger carrier’ means a passenger motor vehicle, aircraft, boat, vessel, or other similar means of transportation that is owned or leased by the United States Government.

“(b) Authority.—

“(1) In general.—The Administrator may authorize the use of a passenger carrier to transport a government astronaut or space flight participant between the residence of the individual and various locations if—

“(A) such transportation is provided for an official purpose; and

“(B) the Chief of the Astronaut Office has approved, in writing, post-mission transportation of government astronauts and space flight participants under this section.

“(2) Maintenance, operation, and repair.—The Administrator may maintain, operate, and repair one or more passenger carriers for the purpose of providing transportation pursuant to the authority provided in paragraph (1).

“(c) Reimbursement.—Transportation under subsection (b)(1) of an international partner astronaut or a space flight participant who is not an employee of the United States Government shall be subject to reimbursement to the Treasury.

“(d) Regulations.—The Administrator shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.

“(e) Applicability of Section 1344 of Title 31.—In carrying out subsection (b), the Administrator may expend funds available to the Administration, by appropriation or otherwise, notwithstanding section 1344(a) of title 31.”.

(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of contents for chapter 201 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 20149 the following:

“20150. Passenger carrier use for astronaut transportation.”. Calendar No. 193

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 582

[Report No. 119-82]