Congressman Vince Fong, a Republican from California, announced Wednesday he introduced legislation that would boost American space companies in the country’s race for dominance against China.
Dubbed the OUTPACE in Space Act, it would cut through regulatory red tape preventing airspace access for commercial rocket launches.
“Across our nation and especially in California, we have the best, most capable workers who possess the ingenuity and skills to lead the way,” Fong said in a statement. “But outdated regulations and bureaucratic delays are holding back American innovation while China rapidly expands its capabilities.”
Rep. Vince Fong CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The Space Act would modernize Federal Aviation Administration regulations to increase launch and reentry efforts, according to Fong’s office. There would be more airspace for more frequent commercial launches and hypersonic testing.
Hiring for the FAA would be expedited under the bill to keep track with the growing private space sector. It would also demand the FAA and federal Department of Transportation to factor in commercial space operations with the national airspace system.
Additionally, federal agencies would not be allowed to partner on space research and development with adversaries such as China and Iran.
All this is to keep up to pace with China, Fong pointed out, which has its government backing its space operations full-heartedly with large investments.
“Licensing for space launch and reentry must keep pace with the cadence of today’s commercial space industry – especially as the U.S. pushes to build an American lunar base ahead of China,” said Commercial Space Federation President Dave Cavossa.
David Smith, CEO of the Mojave Air and Space Port, used as an example how licensing for space launches and reentry can be costly to apply for, with reviews taking up to two years.
The Artemis II mission Space Launch System rocket carrying the manned Orion Integrity capsule blasts off from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Pat Benic/UPI/Shutterstock “The OUTPACE in Space Act helps advance a more streamlined process that would facilitate entry into the market by new and innovative firms,” Smith said, which in turn will drive down costs with more commerce in the space.
Fong has dealt quite a bit with space and aerial legislation since his election in 2024 to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
He has proposed bills to modernize space transportation infrastructure and to support commercial hypersonics testing.
