# 119-hr-5602: LAUNCH Act

119-hr-5602, LAUNCH Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11] (R-TX); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-13).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5602
- As of: 2026-06-13
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5602
- Congress: 119
- Title: LAUNCH Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-26
- Sponsor: Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-06-13

## Summary

**Streamlines commercial space licensing and remote sensing rules.** This bill would cut regulatory uncertainty and delays by modernizing licensing processes, improving interagency coordination, and boosting transparency while keeping safety oversight in place. - Launch companies and applicants would see quicker, clearer reviews through a mandated evaluation of the Part 450 incremental review framework within 120 days and a 90-day follow-up report with delay-reduction recommendations. The bill also keeps an Aerospace Rulemaking Committee to update Part 450 and avoid duplicative work. - Operators of private remote sensing systems would get clearer rules and faster processing. The bill clarifies which instruments are exempt from remote sensing treatment, assigns dedicated licensing officers, requires expedited review for lower-tier systems, and mandates periodic reevaluation of tiering. - Federal agencies and the workforce would get new tools and structure. The bill would create a Commercial Space Transportation Administration inside DOT, authorize direct-hire authority for space licensing staff, require annual briefings on processing metrics, and order a GAO review of Commerce remote sensing licensing practices. *Increases federal spending by up to $5.0 million in fiscal year 2025 to build the digital licensing system.*

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27] (D-CA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Faster, clearer launch approval process: benefit, medium. This bill would tell DOT to accept reasonable safety plans that meet standards and to decide changes quickly using the incremental review process. It would direct DOT to cut duplicate interagency reviews, especially those tied to Federal ranges. Within 120 days, DOT would evaluate how the current l…
- Clearer, faster remote sensing licenses: benefit, low. This bill would require clear written reasons for remote sensing tier decisions and ongoing engagement with applicants. The Secretary would aim to shorten reviews and reevaluate tier rules at least yearly, with a goal to move Tier 3 systems to lower tiers without temporary conditions. Instruments u…
- Dedicated help for space licenses: benefit, low. This bill would assign a licensing team lead to each commercial launch or reentry applicant. It would also assign licensing officers to private remote sensing applicants to help minimize license conditions and speed reviews, as allowed by law. The agency could use existing direct‑hire authority to…
- Online tracker for launch licenses: benefit, low. This bill would require the Transportation Secretary to launch a public online system within 60 days. It would accept, track, and notify applicants on each commercial space license or permit from receipt to decision, with key dates posted online. The system would use off‑the‑shelf software and trea…
- New DOT office for space: benefit, low. This bill would create a Commercial Space Transportation Administration inside DOT. An Administrator would report to the Secretary and handle commercial space launch and reentry authorities under chapter 509.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-6976: Duty Status Reform Act
- 119-hr-1227: Alternatives to PAIN Act
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-2978: GUARD Act
- 119-hr-2570: Maximum Pressure Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-5602 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5602)

## Related
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-6976: Duty Status Reform Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6976)
- [119-hr-1227: Alternatives to PAIN Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1227)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-2978: GUARD Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2978)
- [119-hr-2570: Maximum Pressure Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2570)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5602 (as of 2026-06-13).