Space Ready Act
Summary
The Space Ready Act authorizes the NASA Administrator to establish a pilot program for infrastructure investments at the Kennedy Space Center. It also establishes an Infrastructure Investment Fund within the Treasury. The fund will be supported by assessments on agreements related to public and commercial activities at the Kennedy Space Center.
Expected Effects
This act aims to improve NASA-owned infrastructure at the Kennedy Space Center through capital repairs, maintenance, and improvements. It mandates annual reports to Congress on the fund's status and proposed uses. The authority to collect assessments for the fund will terminate on December 31, 2035.
Potential Benefits
- Improved infrastructure at Kennedy Space Center.
- Potential for increased private and public investment in space-related projects.
- Enhanced support for commercial activities at the space center.
- Increased transparency through annual reports to Congress.
- Modernization and expansion of NASA-owned facilities.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential burden on commercial partners through infrastructure assessments.
- Limited scope, focusing solely on Kennedy Space Center.
- Termination of assessment authority in 2035 may create funding gaps.
- Fund usage is subject to the Administrator's discretion, potentially leading to biased allocation.
- Improvements become property of the United States, potentially limiting private sector incentives.
Constitutional Alignment
The Space Ready Act appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. The establishment of a fund for infrastructure improvements at a space center could be argued as promoting the general welfare.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).