PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.5245 / 108th Congress

To extend the liability indemnification regime for the commercial space transportation industry.

Became Public Law No: 108-428.

Official summary

Version 49 · Public Law · Nov 30, 2004

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Extends liability insurance and financial responsibility requirements with respect to commercial space transportation through December 31, 2009.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to arrange with a nonprofit entity for a study: (1) regarding the liability risk sharing regime in the United States for commercial space transportation; (2) to assess methods by which the liability risk sharing regime could be eliminated and whether alternative steps would be needed to maintain a viable and competitive U.S. space transportation industry if it were eliminated; and (3) to examine liability risk sharing in other nations with commercial launch capability and evaluate the direct and indirect impact that eliminating the regime would have on the competitiveness of the U.S. commercial space launch industry in relation to foreign commercial launch providers and on U.S. assured access to space.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Boehlert, Sherwood [R-NY-24] · R–NY

Committees

  • Science, Space, and Technology Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Became Public Law No: 108-428.

  2. Became Public Law No: 108-428.

  3. Signed by President.

  4. Signed by President.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S11390)

  9. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S11390)

  10. Received in the Senate, read twice.

  11. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  12. On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H9020)

  13. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H9020)

  14. Mr. Smith (MI) asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

  15. Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H9020)

  16. Committee on Science discharged.

  17. Committee on Science discharged.

  18. Referred to the House Committee on Science.

  19. Introduced in House

  20. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5245 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5245 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5245 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5245 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources