Authorizes NASA to lease its real property for up to 50 years to states, state agencies, certain education-focused nonprofits, and colleges, so they can build and run research, education, and training facilities.

Official title: Space Exploration Research Act

Next stop Senate floor: awaiting a vote

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

Senate

Introduced 17-JUL-2025

Referred 17-JUL-2025

Approved by committee 30-JUL-2025

Reported 13-APR-2026

On the calendar 13-APR-2026

Key points

Lets NASA lease its land and buildings for terms up to 50 years, with renewal options, to state governments, their agencies, 501(c)(3) education or science foundations, and institutions of higher education.
Allows NASA to lease back property it has leased out, and to provide administrative, maintenance, and instructional support to the lessees, subject to the availability of appropriations.
Makes the authority apply regardless of the existing lease authority NASA uses and overrides specified provisions of Title 40, Title 51, and Title 54 of the U.S. Code.
Requires NASA to report annually to the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee on mission relevance, costs, savings, and the number of leases.

AI-generated from the Reported to Senate text of 13-APR-2026 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

Current. The Congressional Research Service's summary covers the bill's latest wording (Reported to Senate, 13-APR-2026).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov

Committee referrals (1)

Policy area

Science, Technology, Communications

Sponsor Ted Cruz (R-TX) Cosponsors · 5

■ 3 D■ 2 R

3 Democrats

2 Republicans