To make revisions in title 51, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current, and to make technical amendments to improve the United States Code.
Summary
H.R. 5174 aims to revise and update Title 51 of the United States Code, which pertains to national and commercial space programs. The bill includes technical amendments and restatements of existing laws to improve clarity and accuracy. It reorganizes, modernizes, and corrects drafting errors within Title 51 without changing the underlying meaning or effect of the law.
Expected Effects
The bill will modernize Title 51, making it easier to navigate and understand. This could lead to more efficient administration and implementation of space-related policies. The revisions include changes to chapter headings, section numbers, and committee names, as well as the addition of new sections addressing areas such as counterfeit parts, information security, and workforce development.
Potential Benefits
- Improved clarity and organization of Title 51, making it easier for stakeholders to understand and comply with space-related laws.
- Technical corrections that reduce ambiguities and contradictions in the existing code.
- Updates to reflect current practices and technologies in the space industry.
- Enhanced focus on critical areas such as cybersecurity, counterfeit parts, and workforce development.
- Promotion of STEM education and inclusion of underrepresented groups in aerospace.
Potential Disadvantages
- The bill primarily focuses on technical revisions and may not address more fundamental policy issues in the space sector.
- The restatement of existing law could potentially lead to unintended consequences or legal challenges if not carefully implemented.
- Some of the changes, such as committee name changes, may require administrative adjustments and could cause temporary confusion.
- The bill's impact on specific stakeholders may vary depending on their activities and interests in the space sector.
- The bill does not allocate new funding, so the implementation of new programs depends on existing resources.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the constitutional mandate to provide for the general welfare (Preamble). It also supports Congress's power to regulate commerce (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) by modernizing laws related to commercial space activities. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
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).