# 119-s-4044: Support for Astrophysical Observatories and National High-Energy Astrophysics Hubs Act of 2026

119-s-4044, Support for Astrophysical Observatories and National High-Energy Astrophysics Hubs Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4044
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4044
- Congress: 119
- Title: Support for Astrophysical Observatories and National High-Energy Astrophysics Hubs Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-10
- Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**National high-energy astrophysics hubs** would be set up under a NASA framework to keep the United States leading in X-ray and high-energy space science. The bill would emphasize workforce training, mission design support, technology transfer, and keeping facility capabilities available beyond flagship missions. - Eligible institutions: Entities that hold a contract with NASA could be designated. This includes institutions of higher education, appropriate State or Federal entities (including federally funded research and development centers), and nongovernmental organizations with advanced energy technology expertise. - Workforce and training: Designated hubs would support training in data-intensive high-energy astrophysics, aerospace engineering, and spacecraft operations to treat that workforce as a national strategic asset. - Mission and facility support: Hubs would back X-ray flagship missions guided by decadal surveys, advance mission planning and high-performance scientific software, enable technology transfer, and help ensure facilities continue serving scientific, educational, and commercial partners after flagship missions end.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New national astrophysics hub designations: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require NASA's Administrator to designate eligible facilities as national high-energy astrophysics hubs. To be eligible, a facility would need a contract with NASA and run missions with one or more listed purposes. Purposes include keeping U.S. leadership in high-energy a…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-5134: Green New Deal for Health Act

## Sources
- [119-s-4044 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4044)

## Related
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-5134: Green New Deal for Health Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5134)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4044 (as of 2026-09-10).