Intelligence Authorization and Space Exploration Sustainability Act Become Law

President Obama signed into law yesterday the FY2013 Intelligence Authorization Act (S. 3454) and the Space Exploration Sustainability Act (H.R. 6586).

Those are the last two space-related bills that we were tracking in the 112th Congress and our fact sheet has been updated accordingly.  Once the Public Law numbers are assigned, we will do a final update.  A new fact sheet for the 113th Congress will be created when there is relevant legislation to track.

Congress did not pass any of the regular FY2013 appropriations bills, instead passing a 6-month Continuing Resolution that funds the government through March 27, 2013.   As for other space-related legislation that was being considered in the final days of the 112th Congress that we reported on January 3, here is how it all turned out:

• American Taxpayer Relief Act (H.R. 8).  Public Law (P.L.) 112-240.  Among other things, delays automatic across-the-board spending cuts — the sequester — until March 1, 2013.
• FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4310).  P.L. 112-239.  Among other things, eases export controls on satellites.
• FY2013 Intelligence Authorization Act (S. 3454).  Signed by the President January 14, 2013; P.L. number not yet assigned.  The unclassified text does not directly address satellite programs conducted by the intelligence community, but the classified annex may.
• Space Exploration Sustainability Act (H.R. 6586). Signed by the President January 14, 2013; P.L. number not yet assigned.  Extends launch liability indemnification for one year, gives NASA relief from some provisions of the Iran, North Korea, Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA), expresses the sense of Congress that NASA not take money from SLS/Orion to pay for commercial crew and vice versa.
• Renaming Dryden Flight Research Center after Neil Armstrong (H.R. 6612). Passed House, but not Senate, so died at the end of the Congress.
• Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for relief of Hurricane Sandy victims (H.R. 1). Passed Senate, but not House, so died at the end of the Congress.  The House passed a different bill providing $9.6 billion to the National Flood Insurance Program.   The House is considering this week additional funds for the victims of Sandy.  Whatever passes will have to be considered anew in the Senate.
• Condemning North Korea’s Missile Launch (H. Con. Res. 145).  Passed House, but not Senate, so died at the end of the Congress.