S. 1946: Quad Space Act

This bill, known as the Quad Space Act, aims to enhance cooperation in space activities among four countries: the United States, Australia, India, and Japan, which are collectively referred to as the Quad countries. Here are the key points of what the bill would do:

Purpose of the Bill

The primary purpose of this bill is to require the Secretary of Defense to start discussions with Australia, India, and Japan to identify mutual interests related to space. This includes:

• Formulating best practices for space activities.
• Cooperating on space situational awareness, which involves sharing data and information regarding objects in space and their movements.
• Establishing space industrial policies aimed at enhancing cooperation and collaboration in the space sector.

Sense of Congress

The bill expresses that it is the opinion of Congress that:

• The U.S. should strengthen its cooperation with Australia, India, and Japan to tackle regional challenges and support a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
• Collaborative efforts to address shared security challenges, especially in space, should be expanded through the Quad framework.
• The revitalization of the Quad by previous U.S. presidents has been crucial for progressing common interests in the Indo-Pacific area.

Actions Required

If enacted, the bill stipulates the following actions:

• Within 180 days of the law's enactment, the Secretary of Defense must initiate discussions with the Quad countries to explore areas of mutual interest in space cooperation.
• Within 270 days of the law's enactment, the Secretary must submit a report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees detailing:
• Potential areas of mutual interest identified through these discussions.
• Proposed steps to formalize cooperation among the Quad members.

Definitions

The bill includes definitions for key terms:

• Quad: Refers to the partnership among the four Quad countries.
• Quad countries: This term specifically means the United States, Australia, India, and Japan.

Implementation Timeline

The timeline for implementing the major actions outlined in the bill is important:

• Initiate discussions within 180 days of enactment.
• Submit a report within 270 days of enactment.

Relevant Companies

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