Cantwell, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reinforce U.S. Space Leadership
NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 will generate economic growth & help space exploration flourish; WA state is home to a robust aerospace industry - 1,500 companies & $4.6B in economic output
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025, which sets clear near-term priorities for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) programs, advances American leadership in deep space exploration, prevents a gap in low Earth orbit leadership and capability, and upholds scientific ingenuity.
The bipartisan bill also equips NASA with the support it needs to continue critical science and exploration missions that will lead to breakthrough discoveries across our solar system. Sen. Cantwell co-introduced the legislation with her Commerce Committee colleagues Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM).
“NASA is the engine of our nation's aerospace economy, with Washington state's 1,500 aerospace companies alone generating $4.6 billion in economic output. Our $25.5 billion investment authorization ensures NASA will continue to lead America's ambitious space program from Earth's orbit to the Moon and Mars. We cannot afford to put our space leadership in jeopardy through hasty restructuring or ineffective oversight. Resiliency, redundancy, and predictability for critical missions is the way to responsibly manage public resources and ensure safety,” said Sen. Cantwell.
The NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 would:
- Support NASA’s human spaceflight and exploration efforts to return American astronauts to the Moon, prepare for future journeys to Mars, and develop the next generation of spacesuits.
- Direct NASA to take steps to enable the growth of a U.S.-led low-Earth orbit commercial space economy, and support commercially-provided orbiting space stations.
- Leverage private sector investment and partnerships to bolster safety and resiliency in human space exploration capabilities.
- Develop lunar capabilities by establishing advanced lunar communications, navigation capabilities, and time synchronization standards and continuing to procure commercial lunar payload services.
- Harmonize research and development of advanced composite materials, hypersonic technology, unmanned aircraft systems, and advanced air mobility across the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DOD).
- Evaluate cost-caps associated with mission proposals to ensure the fair use of taxpayer dollars.
- Support vital life and physical science research to ensure that humans can safely explore
- Protect Earth from asteroids and other near-Earth objects through NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office.
Read the full text of the bill HERE. For more information about the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025, the section-by-section summary is HERE.
Sen. Cantwell introduced the bill on the same day a notable Washingtonian is expected to command the Crew-10 -- embodying both our nation’s efforts to continue space exploration and innovation, and Washington state’s contributions to them.
“Later today, astronaut, Colonel Anne McClain from Spokane, Washington, will launch to the International Space Station. A proud Spokane native and 1997 Gonzaga Prep graduate -- Ms. McClain embodies the adventurous spirit and determination that defines America's astronaut core,” said Sen. Cantwell at a Commerce Committee markup this morning. “Her return to space as Commander of the Crew-10 continues Washington's rich contribution to our nation's space program. As Commander McClain has often said herself, quote, ‘If you want to go far, go together.’ I think it's a philosophy that perfectly captures the collaborative nature of space exploration and scientific progress.”
Sen. Cantwell is a champion promoting American leadership in space exploration. In December – then as chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – she joined her colleagues on the committee in introducing the bipartisan NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2024, which would provide the agency $25.5 billion in funding for Fiscal Year 2025. The legislation would also give NASA clear guidance to keep aeronautics, space exploration, Earth and space science, and technology on a steady course to maintain American aerospace leadership.
In July 2023, Sen. Cantwell brought NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, regional aerospace industry leaders, STEM education leaders, and students together for a Washington State Space Summit, held at Blue Origin HQ in Kent. The summit included a trade show with 20 space companies, industry groups, and educators from across the State of Washington followed by a panel discussion.
In 2022, Sen. Cantwell celebrated the successful launch of NASA’s Artemis I mission. Washington state contributes significantly to the Artemis program with 42 companies providing components either for Artemis I or for later Artemis missions, including General Dynamics in Bothell, Aerojet Rocketdyne in Redmond, Blue Origin in Kent, and Toray Composites Material in Tacoma. A full list of Washington companies supporting the Artemis program is available HERE.
In November 2019, Sen. Cantwell co-sponsored the bipartisan NASA Authorization Act of 2020, which aimed to recognize the Artemis missions in U.S. law for the first time. To provide certainty and stability for the program, language authorizing the Artemis missions and requiring NASA to establish stringent oversight requirements was eventually incorporated into the CHIPS & Science Act, which Cantwell spearheaded through Congress. The CHIPS & Science Act was signed into law on August 9, 2022.
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