Sen. Moran Supports Committee Passage of NASA Reauthorization Legislation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) - chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation - applauded the recent committee passage of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Authorization Act of 2026, legislation he cosponsored with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chairman and ranking member of the full committee. The two-year reauthorization would reaffirm American leadership in space, advance the Artemis program, extend the International Space Station and authorize critical federal investments for NASA.

"The bipartisan approval of this NASA reauthorization legislation is an important step toward bolstering U.S. leadership in space, supporting our economy and national defense and preventing our adversaries from gaining a foothold in space," said Sen. Moran. "When our Artemis astronauts return to the Moon, small and large aerospace manufacturers across Kansas will have played a role in launching America into the next era of space exploration. This legislation will provide NASA with the tools necessary to lead these efforts, including support for the establishment of a sustained U.S. presence on the Moon, continued investments in science and technology development, expanded public-private partnerships with aerospace manufacturers and new jobs and opportunities for businesses in Kansas and across America."

Sen. Moran's priorities included in the NASA Authorization Act of 2026:

• Direct NASA to establish a permanent Moon base to support America's mission of beating China to the Moon;

• Keep American astronauts in space, extending the International Space Station (ISS) until at least 2032 and requiring the launch of two independent commercial space stations before the ISS can be retired;

• Support fiscal responsibility while modernizing NASA's workforce through public-private partnerships;

• Include language requested by NASA Aeronautics to support advanced materials research, hypersonic research and advanced air mobility systems;

• Allow NASA to enter into agreements to procure capabilities and services for human exploration of the Moon and cislunar space; and

• Eliminate a loophole that allows members of the public to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for astronauts' medical quality assurance records.

# # #