PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 116-275.
Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · Dec 31, 2020
One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act
This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to
add the recommendations described in the following clause as a condition or requirement to contracts, grants, agreements, partnerships or other arrangements pertaining to lunar activities carried out by, for, or in partnership with NASA; inform other relevant federal agencies of the recommendations; and encourage the use of best practices, consistent with the recommendations, by such agencies.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The recommendations described are
NASA's Recommendations to Space-Faring Entities: How to Protect and Preserve the Historic and Scientific Value of U.S. Government Lunar Artifacts issued by NASA on July 20, 2011, and updated on October 28, 2011; and any successor recommendations, guidelines, best practices, or standards related to the principle of due regard and the limitation of harmful interference with Apollo landing site artifacts issued by NASA.
NASA may waive the conditions or requirements as it applies to an individual contract, grant, agreement, partnership or other arrangement pertaining to lunar activities carried out by, for, or in partnership with NASA so long as
such waiver is accompanied by a finding from NASA that carrying out the first directed obligation of this bill would be unduly prohibitive to an activity or activities of legitimate and significant historical, archaeological, anthropological, scientific, or engineering value; and the finding is provided to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate no later than 30 days before the waiver takes effect.
People & committees
Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] · D–MI
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 116-275.
Became Public Law No: 116-275.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 1694 by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S7850)
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments to S. 1694 by Voice Vote.
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7219-7220)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7219-7220)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1694.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7219-7222)
Ms. Horn, Kendra S. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
By Senator Wicker from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 116-194.
By Senator Wicker from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 116-194.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote. (text: CR S4935)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.(text: CR S4935)
The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S4934)
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4934-4935)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 152.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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