Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics Act or the MACH Act
This bill permits the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a research program to facilitate the testing of high-speed aircraft and related technologies, to be known as the Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics Program.
Within a specified time period, NASA must develop a strategic plan for such research. NASA must also consult with the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration on these efforts.
Under the program, NASA may not (1) fund the development of hypersonic and related technologies; or (2) enter into an agreement with certain foreign entities of concern, including entities owned or controlled by China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 477 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 477
To advance scientific research and technology development of hypersonic
vehicles, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 16, 2025
Mr. Fong (for himself and Mr. Mullin) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To advance scientific research and technology development of hypersonic
vehicles, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Making Advancements in Commercial
Hypersonics Act'' or the ``MACH Act''.
SEC. 2. MAKING ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMERCIAL HYPERSONICS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--In conducting hypersonics research pursuant to
section 40112(d) of title 51, United States Code, the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (in this section
referred to as the ``Administrator'') may establish the Making
Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics Program (in this section
referred to as the ``Program'') to facilitate opportunities for testing
of high-speed aircraft and other technologies that advance scientific
research and technology development related to hypersonic aircraft.
(b) Limitation.--The Program may not fund the development of
technologies that are supported by the testing described in subsection
(a).
(c) Strategic Plan.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator, acting through the
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, shall develop a strategic
plan for activities under subsection (a) that aligns with the
hypersonic research roadmap required under section 603 of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of
2017 (Public Law 115-10; 51 U.S.C. 20302 note).
(d) Coordination, Consultation, and Collaboration.--
(1) Coordination.--The Administrator shall ensure
coordination between the Aeronautics Research Mission
Directorate and other Mission Directorates, as appropriate, to
identify technologies eligible for testing opportunities under
the Program.
(2) Consultation; collaboration.--The Administrator shall
consult and seek to collaborate, as appropriate, with the
Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the Federal
Aviation Administration on activities related to the Program,
including development, testing, and evaluation of high-speed
aircraft and related technologies.
(e) Report.--The Administrator shall submit to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Armed Services of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate--
(1) not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, a report that--
(A) describes activities of the Program; and
(B) includes the strategic plan required under
subsection (c); and
(2) not later than one year after the date of the enactment
of this Act and annually thereafter, a report describing
progress in carrying out the Program, including regarding the
number and type of testing opportunities carried out in the
previous fiscal year and planned for the upcoming fiscal year.
(f) Research Security.--Nothing in this section authorizes the
Administrator to develop, implement, or execute an agreement related to
technologies under this section with any entity of concern, a foreign
business entity, or a foreign country of concern.
(g) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) Entity of concern.--The term ``entity of concern'' has
the meaning given such term in section 10114 of the Research
and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (Public Law
117-167; 42 U.S.C. 18912).
(2) Foreign business entity.--The term ``foreign business
entity'' means an entity that is majority-owned or majority-
controlled (as such term is defined in section 800.208 of title
31, Code of Federal Regulations, or a successor regulation), or
minority owned greater than 25 percent by--
(A) any governmental organization of a foreign
country of concern; or
(B) any other entity that is--
(i) known to be owned or controlled by any
governmental organization of a foreign country
of concern; or
(ii) organized under, or otherwise subject
to, the laws of a foreign country of concern.
(3) Foreign country of concern.--The term ``foreign country
of concern'' has the meaning given such term in section 9901 of
title XCIX of division H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15
U.S.C. 4651).
(4) High-speed aircraft.--The term ``high-speed aircraft''
has the meaning given such term in section 1009 of the Federal
Aviation Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-63; 49
U.S.C. 44701 note).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
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