March 4, 2026
Mr. Schmitt (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, and Mr. Bennet) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
To provide expanded cooperation by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with Taiwan, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Space cooperation with Taiwan
(a) Requirement
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce (acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), may seek to engage Taiwan relating to expanding cooperation regarding civilian space activities.
(b) Cooperation efforts
In seeking to expand cooperation regarding civilian space activities between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Taiwan under subsection (a), the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, may carry out efforts to identify and pursue space exploration, space applications, and science initiatives in areas of mutual benefit, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 and applicable export regulations, and taking all appropriate measures to protect sensitive information, intellectual property, trade secrets, and economic interests of the United States, in the following areas:
(1)
Satellite programs, space exploration programs, and atmospheric and weather programs.
(2)
Personnel exchanges of employees of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with the Taiwan Space Agency.
(3)
Activities of mutual benefit related to commercial space and atmospheric and weather technology and services.
(c) Report
(1) Requirement
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for five years, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretary of State, shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of this section.
(2) Contents
The report under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A)
A description of the activities conducted between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with Taiwan.
(B)
An identification of any challenges that need to be addressed to expand such cooperation.
(C)
An overview of efforts undertaken pursuant to this section.
(D)
Any other matter the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretary of State consider relevant.
(d) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees
means—
(1)
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(2)
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.