,i #aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dgeb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #af1 #bjaf ,mr4 ,rohrabacher introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration to investigate and promote the exploration and development of space leading to human settlements beyond ,earth1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,space ,exploration1 ,development1 and ,settlement ,act of #bjaf4 #b4 ,findings ,the ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 ,america's activities in space have challenged mankind to travel beyond planet ,earth and have provided us the opportunity to expand human knowledge1 to extend the limits of human consciousness1 and to improve the human condition2 7#b7 ,section #bag7;a7 of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration ,authorization ,act1 ,fiscal ,year #aihi states1 ,the ,congress declares that the extension of human life beyond ,earth's atmosphere1 leading ultimately to the establishment of space settlements1 will fulfill the purposes of advancing science1 exploration1 and development and will enhance the general welfare42 7#c7 numerous independent commissions1 chartered by ,congress or established by the ,president1 have declared space settlements as a long-range objective of the ,american space program2 7#d7 exploring1 developing1 and settling new physical areas are parts of our heritage and will most assuredly be parts of our future2 7#e7 ,united ,states space policy requires long-range goals and strategic direction in order to provide context for near-term space projects and programs2 7#f7 increasing awareness of planetary-scale existential risks to human civilization and the survival of the species make it prudent to develop a means to diversify the human population beyond ,earth2 7#g7 the development of space will create new jobs1 catalyze new industries1 accelerate innovation and new technologies1 and enable ,america to tap vast new resources that will generate new wealth1 enhance national security1 and provide ,americans with new and limitless opportunities2 7#h7 the establishment of space settlements will inspire generations of future ,americans2 7#i7 the human settlement of space is fully consistent with the policies and objectives articulated in the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,act of #aieh2 and 7#aj7 the adoption of a pioneering orientation by the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration is an essential step toward enabling the establishment of space settlements4 #c4 ,amendments to the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,act 7a7 ,declaration of policy and purpose ,section #bjajb of title #ea1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsections 7d7 through 7h7 as subsections 7e7 through 7i71 respectively2 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7c7 the following new subsection3 7d7 ,exploration1 development1 and settlement of space ,the ,congress declares that expanding permanent human presence beyond low-,earth orbit in a way that enables human settlement and a thriving space economy will enhance the general welfare of the ,united ,states and requires the ,administration to encourage and support the development of permanent space settlements4 2 7#c7 in subsection 7e71 as so redesignated by paragraph 7#a7 of this subsection1 by inserting after paragraph 7#i7 the following new paragraph3 7#aj7 ,the expansion of permanent human presence beyond low-,earth orbit in a way that enables human settlement and a thriving space economy4 2 and 7#d7 in subsection 7i71 as so redesignated by paragraph 7#a7 of this subsection1 by striking to 7g7 and inserting in lieu thereof to 7h74 7b7 ,definitions ,section #bjajc of title #ea1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting1 in paragraph 7#a77;,d71 and development after exploration2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#c7 ,space settlement ,the term space settlement means any community of humans living beyond ,earth's atmosphere that is able to economically sustain its population through a neutral or positive balance of trade of goods and services1 and is able to expand its habitable real estate as need and desire of the community may warrant and international law permits4 4 #d4 ,space settlement activities 7a7 ,space development and settlement information ,consistent with the national security interests of the ,united ,states1 the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration shall1 in close cooperation with other appropriate agencies1 the private sector1 academia1 and the international community1 obtain1 produce1 and provide information relating to all issues important for the development of a thriving space economy and the development and establishment of human space settlements4 7b7 ,report ,once every two years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall submit a report to the ,president1 the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives1 and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate which describes the progress made toward expanding permanent human presence beyond low-,earth orbit in a way that enables human settlement and a thriving space economy4 7c7 ,metrics ,the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration shall1 as part of its first report as required by subsection 7b71 include one or more metrics by which to determine progress made toward space settlement against which all subsequent reports as required by subsection 7b7 shall be compared4 ,the metrics may be revised as appropriate over time to reflect emerging technological1 economic1 and other trends4 #e4 ,review of national space policy as it may relate to space settlement and a thriving space economy ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,president should conduct a review of national space policy to incorporate as a long-term goal of the human spaceflight and exploration program to expand human presence beyond low-,earth orbit in a way that will enable human settlement and a thriving space economy4