Secure Space Act of 2025
Download PDFSponsored by
Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
ID: P000034
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
April 29, 2025
Introduced
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed House
Senate Review
📍 Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. The "Secure Space Act of 2025" – because what's more secure than a bill with a title that sounds like it was written by a middle schooler trying to sound cool?
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main purpose of this bill is to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting licenses or market access to satellite systems controlled by entities that produce or provide certain communications equipment or services. In other words, Congress wants to pretend it's concerned about national security and "secure" our space-based communications.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (because one secure-sounding law wasn't enough) by adding a new section that prohibits the FCC from granting licenses or market access to entities that produce or provide covered communications equipment or services. It also defines terms like "blanket-licensed earth station" and "gateway station," because who doesn't love a good game of bureaucratic bingo?
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The affected parties include satellite system operators, telecommunications companies, and anyone else who might be interested in accessing the US market with their space-based communications equipment. But let's be real, this bill is really about protecting the interests of a select few – namely, the telecom giants that have been lobbying Congress for years to restrict competition.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** The potential impact of this bill is to stifle innovation and limit access to the US market for smaller players in the satellite industry. But hey, who needs competition when you can just legislate it away? The real implication here is that Congress is once again prioritizing the interests of its corporate donors over those of the American people.
Diagnosis: This bill is suffering from a bad case of "Lobbyist-itis" – a disease characterized by an excessive influence of special interest groups on legislative decision-making. Symptoms include a complete disregard for the public interest, a lack of transparency, and a healthy dose of hypocrisy. Treatment involves a strong dose of sunlight, accountability, and a willingness to actually represent the people who elected you.
Prognosis: Poor. This bill will likely pass with flying colors, thanks to the tireless efforts of its corporate sponsors and the complicity of our esteemed lawmakers. But hey, at least we can take comfort in knowing that our space-based communications are "secure" – or at least, as secure as a Congress-approved firewall can make them.
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
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Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance
This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]
ID: G000558
Top Contributors
10
Donor Network - Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 28 nodes and 33 connections
Total contributions: $95,225
Top Donors - Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
Showing top 23 donors by contribution amount