---
title: "Proposed Legislation Would Make Space Settlement a National Goal"
description: "Legislation that one congressman plans to introduce in the near future would make space settlement a national goal and require NASA to take action to support it."
date: "2015-05-04"
modified: "2015-08-13"
authors:
  - name: "Ethan Fox"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/foxman"
url: "https://futurism.com/proposed-legislation-would-make-space-settlement-a-national-goal"
categories:
  - "Off-World"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "space"
---

# Proposed Legislation Would Make Space Settlement a National Goal

![Default Futurism featured image](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Futurism-Filler-Image.jpg>)

- The Space Exploration, Development, and Settlement Act of 2015, drafted by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), would mark the second time in the last three decades that Congress has directed NASA to support efforts for permanent human settlements beyond Earth orbit.
- Under the bill, NASA would be required to produce a report every two years “which describes the progress made toward expanding permanent human presence beyond low-Earth orbit” in support of space settlement. Those reports would also require NASA to develop metrics to quantify that progress.
- While yet to be formally introduced, space advocates have been working to line up support for the bill. In mid-April, the Alliance for Space Development (ASD), a coalition of 11 space organizations, asked its members to contact their congressional representatives and request they co-sponsor the legislation.